Little Compton council refers amended FY2027 budget to clerk, approves $15,000 for 250th celebration

At a budget meeting, the Little Compton Town Council voted to send the amended FY2027 budget and the councils packet of warrant articles to the town clerk for inclusion in the warrant for the May 19, 2026 financial town meeting and approved $15,000 in town funding for the Little Compton 250th celebration.

The council reviewed a comparative FY26–FY27 expense document. Council member John reported several line‑item changes: town council salaries were reverted to FY26 levels (listed as $21,828 in the FY27 draft), the town clerks budget was increased by $82,000 to $319,916, senior services were increased by $9,500 to $89,700, and $218,000 of capital expenditures were slated to be funded from the general fund with the remaining capital coming from the capital reserve fund. The presenter said overall operating expenses did not change and reported the budget total as 18,769,350 (figure quoted from the transcript).

A council member moved to send the amended budget to the town clerk for delivery to the budget committee; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The council then considered the outside‑of‑budget warrant articles that fall under its jurisdiction.

Council members debated a request from the LC250 organizers for a $30,000 appropriation. A member noted the group appeared to have nearly $29,000 carried over from the LC350 celebration and questioned whether an additional $30,000 appropriation was appropriate given the towns recent financial strain. One member also raised that fireworks and other event costs could increase the total expense and suggested the organizers present additional fundraising plans before receiving full, up‑front funding.

After discussion, a council member moved to appropriate $15,000 to LC250; the motion was seconded and, by voice vote, the appropriation was approved. The council also approved a block of nine other grants and charitable appropriations that the council read into the record, including: Brown L House $10,000; Little Compton Food Bank $37,500 (level funded); Little Compton Community Center Meals $30,000; Friends of Little Compton Nursing $30,000; Prevention Coalition $1,500; Conservation District $1,500; and East Bay Community Action $750. The council indicated that police and fire detail costs for events would be considered separately as the budget committee or council receives additional information.

Resident Michael Bookerelli, of 510 West Main Road, noted that the council had funded the prior 350th celebration in multiple years and urged prioritizing public safety funding (police and fire) over large discretionary appropriations.

During public comment, resident Vincent Kennedy urged the council to prepare a five‑year fiscal forecast and make it available in advance of the financial town meeting so voters could see revenue and reserve trends and understand plans to rebuild the general fund. A council member responded that a longer view could help show how the town would restore reserves.

Procedural note: the transcript records the actions as voice votes; specific roll‑call tallies or named vote records were not provided in the transcript. The amended budget and the packet of warrant articles were referred to the town clerk for the May 19, 2026 financial town meeting, and the LC250 appropriation of $15,000 was approved by the council. The meeting adjourned after closing business.