Cranston finance committee reviews budget calendar, rainy-day fund rules ahead of April hearings

Auditor David DeMaio told the Cranston Finance Committee on March 24 that the mayor will introduce the fiscal 2026 budget April 1 and the council's public hearings will begin April 8, with departmental hearings for police, fire and schools and a second hearing April 12 for remaining departments.

DeMaio said departments will provide nine-month actuals alongside their requested budgets so council members can see whether changes in revenue or expenses are structural or one-time. He outlined the calendar: an amendment night where reallocations must balance, a final adoption night, and a date to be determined for any veto overrides if needed.

The auditor also reviewed the city's rainy-day fund requirement. He said the fund must equal 5% of the total budget under city ordinance and that surpluses are transferred into a restricted fund while deficits reduce it. DeMaio described the purpose of the fund as protection against unexpected shortfalls and said certain one-time transfers, such as ARPA-funded internal-service replenishments, may be excluded from the structural calculation.

Council members sought operational clarifications. Council Vice President Wall and Councilwoman Graziano asked about timing of quarterly payments and how fourth-quarter adjustments are used to reconcile departmental surpluses and shortfalls. DeMaio explained some revenues and expenses are not monthly and emphasized the need to ask departments whether changes are sustainable or anomalies.

No formal action was taken; the session was an informational workshop intended to prepare the council for the budget hearings and amendment process described by DeMaio.