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Coventry School Committee adopts FY2026 budget as town projects $52 million local appropriation
Summary
The School Committee approved a FY2026 budget that aligns with the town manager’s projection of a $52 million local appropriation; Superintendent Cowart stressed maintenance-of-effort requirements and cited Medicaid reimbursement and deficit-reduction funding.
The Coventry School Committee voted 6-0 on Feb. 27 to approve the district’s fiscal year 2026 budget, a package the superintendent said aligns the district request with the town manager’s projected $52,000,000 local appropriation.
Superintendent Cowart framed the vote around Rhode Island’s maintenance-of-effort law (Rhode Island General Laws §16-7-23), which requires municipalities to contribute at least as much to their schools as the previous fiscal year. Cowart told the committee that local appropriations provide the stable base the district needs because state and federal funds can vary: ‘‘The law is monitored by Rhode Island Department of Ed. ... Communities must contribute at least…
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