West Warwick council adjusts FY2026 proposal, raises projected revenues and sets tax collection rate

The West Warwick Town Council voted April 8 to increase budgeted revenues by $150,000, set the town's tax-collection assumption at 97.7% and send a provisional FY2026 budget to the Rhode Island Division of Municipal Finance for the May 8 tentative hearing.

Town Manager Mark, presenting the proposal with Finance Director Kristen Benoit, told the council: "Our total budget increase is approximately $5,900,000," and said that figure includes about $1.8 million in municipal expenses, $3.1 million in school state-aid pass-through and a requested increase to the local school appropriation of roughly $991,000. Benoit also described benefit and pension cost pressures: "Rates provided by BRSRI have been applied to all pensionable salary types," and she said healthcare projections increased to about 5.66 percent and dental to 5.07 percent.

Why it matters: the council's adjustments lowered the town's projected tax-rate increase from the plan introduced earlier in the process. After the revenue amendments and the new 97.7% collection assumption, Council staff estimated the tax-rate increase would fall to about 1.75% (the manager described that scenario as the result of changing revenue and collection assumptions rather than cuts to services).

Discussion: councilors and public commenters debated alternate ways to reduce the levy. Several council members and residents urged additional line-by-line scrutiny and greater use of vacancies and efficiency measures before cutting services. Resident John Reed questioned how police and other special-revenue funds are used; Alan Plaza and other residents urged the council to solicit broader public input and to protect elderly residents on fixed incomes. Council members repeatedly emphasized that roughly 90% of the town's budget is fixed payroll, benefits and pension obligations, leaving limited discretionary spending.

Formal actions taken: the council approved a motion accepting a package of revenue increases totaling $150,000 (the motion listed investment/penalty interest, building-permit revenue and tax-sale fees among the adjustments) and then approved a separate motion to set the tax collection rate assumption at 97.7%. A provisional budget motion to permit staff to file the required materials with the state Division of Municipal Finance and advertise for the May 8 tentative hearing also passed. Each motion passed by voice vote; no detailed roll-call tallies with member-by-member votes were recorded in the hearing transcript.

Context and next steps: managers stressed the FY2026 proposal still reflects uncertainty around the final state budget, federal funding and appeal outcomes for property valuations. The council varied in appetite for reducing the school appropriation request; several councilors said they did not want to reduce the $991,000 requested by the school department because they judged the schools had already cut substantially. The council instructed town staff to proceed with DMF filing and to return on the final hearing date for a definitive vote.

Votes at a glance - Increase projected revenues by $150,000 (adjustments cited: investment/penalty interest, building-permit revenue and tax-sale-related fees) — Motion approved by voice vote. - Set tax collection-rate assumption at 97.7% — Motion approved by voice vote. - Approve provisional FY2026 budget for submission to the Division of Municipal Finance and advertising for the May 8 tentative hearing — Motion approved by voice vote.

What council members and staff emphasized: the town manager and finance director both said capital requests were pared back in the current proposal and that legacy pension liabilities remain the largest fixed-cost pressure. Several councilors urged further operational reviews and targeted management action on attendance and productivity issues where they believed savings could be found, but they also warned that layoffs or abrupt cuts could reduce service levels residents currently receive.

A final, binding vote on the FY2026 budget remains scheduled after the required public-advertising window; the council's provisional vote moves the numbers forward for state review and public notice.