Budget board zeroes town-aided grants; libraries and nonprofits push for transparent grant process

The Budget & Financial Review Board recommended zero funding for the town's 'town-aided programs' line, a $73,500 portfolio of grants and payments to local nonprofits and regional service providers, and suggested replacing the current informal process with a formal grant application and reporting requirement.

Council members and the public pushed back. Several nonprofit representatives and library officials said cuts were premature without a staged transition. "These organizations provide services to our town that go beyond lending books," said Melissa Moroni, president of the East Smithfield Public Library board. Library director Corey Alps told the board that both libraries requested a modest 3% increase to keep pace with inflation and said the BFRB did not solicit input from the libraries before recommending cuts.

Board members defended the recommendation as a transparency measure: they said some longstanding recipients had received automatic annual payments with little reporting or measurable documentation of Smithfield-specific impact. The BFRB asked that any organization seeking future funding present performance metrics and a public request in a council meeting or through a formal grant cycle.

The board did not select which organizations would be funded under a future grant process and suggested the council could decide whether to provide transitional funding in the coming year while it develops application criteria. The matter is expected to be revisited before or at the council vote next week.