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Tiverton budget hearing stalls amid disputes over school funding and casino revenue
Summary
Residents urged the council to restore a 3.75% increase for schools while others backed a lower figure and use of one‑time casino revenue for bond payoffs; the council opened the FY27 public hearing but deferred a final vote until June 22 to allow legal/agenda review.
The Tiverton Town Council held a lengthy public hearing on the proposed FY27 unified budget and heard several hours of testimony from residents who urged larger school funding and clearer disclosure of casino revenue use.
At the outset of the hearing, parent and resident Shana Mcdana urged the council to grant the school system a 3.75% increase to prevent further student loss and to support athletics and facilities, saying the district needs a community effort "to preserve public ed." She said families were already shopping neighboring districts and that funding shortfalls threaten the high school’s future.
Why it matters: The budget debate centered on whether the town should use one‑time casino gaming proceeds to reduce bonded debt and thereby hold down the town’s tax rate, or preserve such funds for capital projects. Citizen Diane Farnworth questioned whether gaming revenue was deliberately withheld earlier to be used now, saying the budget’s presentation could mask the true scale of recurring operating costs.
Council response and next steps: Councilors defended both positions. Several members stressed that paying down near‑mature bonds with one‑time revenue reduces long‑term tax burden; others said recurring operating costs should not be sustained by one‑time funds. Administration officials and the council agreed that the formal vote on the unified budget requires additional agenda/legal review; rather than vote at this meeting the council deferred final adoption to the June 22 meeting. The public hearing was closed and the council instructed staff to return with any required clarifications.
Key context: Testimony at the hearing ranged from requests for staffing and program restoration to requests for greater transparency on Medicaid reimbursement estimates and transportation line items. Administrator Jones and councilors described prior and planned use of casino funds for capital projects, and stressed that one‑time gaming money has been used historically for major purchases to avoid multi‑year debt service.
What’s next: The council plans to revisit the budget for a final vote on June 22. If adopted, any use of casino revenue for operating relief was presented by proponents as limited and nonrecurring; opponents urged clearer public accounting so voters can judge long‑term fiscal tradeoffs.
