Council schedules Feb. 3 special election on $50 million bond and charter questions amid debate over timing

The Warwick City Council voted to schedule a special election on Feb. 3, 2026, to ask voters to authorize up to $50 million in municipal indebtedness and to consider several proposed charter amendments.

Supporters, including school construction officials and administration staff, argued the earlier date is needed to protect guaranteed maximum price (GMP) alternates and keep subcontractor pricing from expiring. "When we did our guaranteed maximum price, the alternates, which includes the fields, they're only gonna hold their pricing till June," Steve Gothberg, director of capital projects for Warwick Public Schools, told the council, describing the firm deadline that underpins the administration's request.

Opponents — and some residents during public comment — urged more time so community outreach and turnout would not be depressed by winter weather. "I will not be supporting this for February 3," Councilman Muto said during the floor debate, adding he would back the bond on a later date. Public commenter Richard Langseth told the council, "February 3 is just simply not the date to hold an election like this," saying the timing would deter many voters.

Council members split along practical and risk lines. Proponents said delaying the vote risks losing contractor commitments and incurring carrying costs; opponents said the city should prioritize broad voter participation. Chief of staff Bill Vicente and school officials said the Board of Elections provided the February date and that the city will use the same notification, early‑voting, mail‑ballot and absentee mechanisms used in other elections to mitigate weather concerns.

The council considered an amendment to move the date to April 7 but voted that down before approving the Feb. 3 date. Members who opposed the amendment said April would push key procurement steps into June, after some alternates in the GMP expire. Supporters of moving the date urged additional outreach; those who favored Feb. 3 pledged to lead voter‑education efforts should the council approve the ballot placement.

If voters approve the bond question, the council and mayor will take follow‑up appropriation and bond‑issuance steps; administration officials estimated the bond sell/closing process could take several weeks to a couple of months after council approvals. If voters reject the measure, officials said they will need to develop a Plan B for construction contingencies and alternate funding.

The council's vote to place the measure on the Feb. 3 ballot followed intergovernmental committee consideration and public comment sessions. The special election scheduling passed on the full council floor after the debate concluded.