Tiverton council debates casino-gaming allocations to schools, approves FY2025 appropriation resolution

The Tiverton Town Council on Oct. 27 debated allocation of casino-gaming revenues for fiscal year 2025 and approved a resolution to adopt the proposed distribution.

Councilor John Perry read a letter describing the town's prior years of casino revenue allocations and said the council's role is to develop long-range priorities for the entire town rather than fund one department at the expense of others. "Section 4.07 of the town charter outlines the powers and duties of the town council," Perry said, urging a balanced approach to municipal and school needs. His remarks noted that roughly half of casino revenue to date had gone to the school system and urged improved coordination between the council and the school committee.

Other councilors agreed that the council must balance requests from municipal departments and the schools. Councilor Burke said requests for funds are not "cuts" unless the council reduces an existing appropriation; rather they are allocations judged against available revenue. Several councilors criticized recent public comments by the school committee chair and said the council should send a clarifying letter to the local paper and school committee explaining the council's allocation process; councilors could sign that communication outside a public meeting.

After discussion the council voted to adopt resolution 2025-0034 (FY2025 casino revenue appropriation). The resolution passed by majority vote with no recorded roll-call opposition in the public meeting record.