Council hears FY27 budget guidance and school department’s draft, including possible layoffs and increased tuition costs

The West Warwick Town Council opened a FY27 budget workshop where the town manager presented budget guidance and the school department delivered its draft FY27 request.

Town manager overview: the manager described a proposed total budget increase of roughly $6.5 million driven by municipal and school needs, including $4.1 million in municipal expenses and about $1.9 million in school state-aid pass-through appropriations. The manager said the proposal includes a levy increase of about 4% (roughly $2.8 million) and estimated a tax-rate increase in the neighborhood of 4.15%. The manager also proposed using $1.5 million from fund balance in the FY27 plan—about $1 million earmarked for anticipated litigation related to pending tax matters and $500,000 to cover an increased local school appropriation request.

School presentation and pressures: the school department presenter (identified in the transcript as Karen) gave an overview of enrollment and costs. Enrollment is down slightly (under 200 students), but the district is serving a higher share of high‑need students—multi‑language learners and students with individualized education programs—which the presenter said increases per‑pupil costs. The district cited large increases in out‑of‑district tuition set by the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) for certain placements; the presenter said tuition rates the district pays have risen substantially since FY23, creating large incremental per‑student costs the district cannot control.

The school said its FY27 request (as presented in the packet) was reduced from an initial draft—after internal cuts of about $3.33 million—to arrive at a proposed local request that includes a $500,000 increase in local appropriation. The district reported plans to reduce positions that would total $2,280,700 in layoffs (certified and classified staff reductions) and additional reductions from substitutes and transportation; transportation cuts were identified at $150,000 and other miscellaneous reductions at $50,000. District leaders emphasized that state aid finalization in June will be critical to personnel decisions and that a contractual waiver this year pushes official layoff notice to June 1, giving the district more time before final actions.

Councilors pressed for detail on how cuts will affect services, how tuition and RIDE decisions are determined, and the potential for bringing students back from expensive out‑of‑district placements. The superintendent said the district is pursuing strategies to keep students in-district when feasible and to contest RIDE determinations when appropriate, but noted repeated statewide challenges and limited local control over tuition-setting. The manager and finance staff cautioned that the final FY27 budget remains contingent on governor and legislative actions affecting state aid.

Next steps: the manager and superintendent said the council will continue workshops and hold two public hearings (March 31 and April 7) before a target budget vote at the May 5 council meeting. Councilors were invited to submit questions in writing and to continue departmental reviews in advance of public hearings.