Westerly council adopts 2027 budget 5-2 after public hearing

Westerly ' The Westerly Town Council voted 5-2 on April 22 to adopt the town manager's proposed 2027 fiscal year budget following a statutorily required public hearing and several hours of public comment and council debate.

The budget passed after councilors highlighted a mix of investments and modest tax relief: a slight decrease in the town mill rate (under the 7.11 figure discussed in hearings), funds set aside for senior housing, creation of an assistant grants administrator position, increased subsidies for local organizations and the first payment toward an $85,000,000 sewer project. Councilor Niemeyer said the town's larger grand list made the package possible: "We set aside money towards developing senior housing. We created an assistant grants administrator position to bring in even more revenue for the town," he said.

Why it matters: The package funds both municipal operations and the school department while directing one-time and recurring dollars to capital projects and local nonprofits. Supporters said the budget maintains services and adds capacity for grants and senior programs; opponents said the council should separate the school operating appropriation and press the district to reduce administrative costs before granting additional operating funds.

During the hearing, community organizations described services supported in part by town subsidies. Lee Eastbourne, executive director of the Johnnycake Center of Westerly, told the council the center provided 302 distribution days, served nearly 2,800 individuals in 12,000 visits last operating year and distributed the equivalent of 207,000 meals, including 76,000 pounds of fresh produce. "We greatly appreciate the town's continued support of the center's mission, programs, and services," Eastbourne said.

Opposition and debate centered on the school budget. Councilor LaPietra said she would vote no on the package's combined town-and-school appropriation, arguing the school department had used its fund balance in years when it reported a surplus and that the district was "administratively top heavy." She said, "I still will be voting no for this budget tonight," and pressed colleagues to demand deeper cost reductions in the operating side before approving increased school funding. Another councilor said they wished municipal and school budgets could be voted separately.

Councilors who supported the package pointed to personnel reductions in the school budget (cited as about 12 positions) and to targeted increases for recreation, the senior center, ambulance services and other community priorities. Rachel Jones, chief of Westerly Ambulance, thanked the council for restoring $50,000 in funding, calling the support essential for emergency services.

The motion to close the public hearing and adopt the town manager's proposed budget as amended was moved, seconded and adopted by roll call vote, passing 5 to 2. The council then completed the meeting and adjourned.

What happens next: With the council's adoption, the budget moves into whatever final administrative steps the town charter and state law require for enactment and publication.