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After failed budget referendum, Coventry schedules special meeting and June 30 referendum
Summary
Town Manager outlined a schedule of follow-up budget deliberations: Town Council meets June 15, a Special Town Meeting is set for June 25 (to be adjourned to a June 30 referendum); staff warned delaying tax bills could add roughly $16,000 in costs and state statute limits interim spending to 30-day allocations if no budget exists.
Town Manager James Drumm told the joint Finance Committee and Board of Education Fiscal Committee on June 8 that after the failure of the recent budget referendum the council will continue deliberations at the regular Town Council meeting on June 15, hold a Special Town Meeting on June 25 in the CHS Auditorium and adjourn that meeting to a referendum on June 30.
Drumm said the schedule accounts for BOE planning needs; the BOE will hold a special meeting on June 16 to adjust its budget based on Council action. Councilor Lisa Thomas said scheduling options were limited by staff and council conflicts and warned that delaying residential tax bills past a certain point would add roughly $16,000 in additional costs. Thomas and Drumm noted that further delay could force the town to issue a tax anticipation note and incur interest costs.
Committee members also discussed bond‑question items that failed the referendum; Thomas said the council cannot develop a funding plan for bond projects until a budget is adopted. Dr. Petrone, speaking for the BOE, asked whether the Charter Revision Commission’s draft could add nonbinding questions about whether voters felt budget items were too high or too low; Jen Beausoleil said the commission has suggested adding such nonbinding questions and the Town Council will hold a public hearing on Charter revisions on June 18.
Chair Robyn Gallagher asked how the town’s unassigned fund balance compares to peers; CliftonLarsonAllen reported a 12.51% unassigned general fund figure and said it is comparable to similar towns. Town staff and councilors emphasized the need to keep the budget timeline so that tax‑bill printing is not delayed and to minimize interim borrowing costs.
The committee did not vote on a new budget at the meeting; staff directed next steps for Council and BOE meetings and scheduling ahead of the June 30 referendum.
