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Newport Council trims proposed school increase, reallocates study funds amid budget fight
Summary
After hours of debate, the Newport City Council cut the school department's proposed 4% local appropriation to 2% and voted to reallocate two $250,000 items to school funding while approving the first reading of the city's fiscal 2026 appropriation ordinance with amendments.
The Newport City Council on June 11 approved the first reading of its fiscal 2026 appropriation ordinance after an evening of sustained debate and multiple floor amendments that reshaped tax and school funding proposals.
Councilor David Carlin offered a package of amendments aimed at reducing the budget's proposed new spending. After discussion and votes on several line items, the council passed an amendment to reduce the school department local appropriation from the 4% requested by the school committee to 2% by a 5-2 vote. Councilors also approved redirecting $250,000 set aside for a regionalization study and another $250,000 from a local "Moving Newport Forward" item into the school budget as one-time allocations.
Carlin framed his amendment in terms of fiscal responsibility and said he would consider restoring additional school funding later if the school committee changed its administrative staffing plan. "I propose to eliminate the $1,008,467 in new personnel spending," he said on the dais as part of a broader amendment proposal, pressing the point that the council needed clearer revenue or payback plans before committing to new recurring personnel costs.
School officials and parents had urged the council to approve the full 4% request. Heather Holstroud and several school committee members told the council that cuts already in the draft school budget removed dozens of positions and that further reductions would affect classroom supports. Becky Boland, vice chair of the School Committee, warned that moving from 4% to 2% would force another roughly $500,000 in cuts: "If we don't get the 4%, we're gonna have to make more cuts," she said.
Councilors who opposed the 4% allocation said the city may see additional state revenue this month and that council should show restraint until state budget action is final. Councilor Carlin asked that the second reading be timed to give staff and the council clearer numbers.
Outcome and next steps: Council approved the appropriation ordinance on first reading as amended and scheduled the second reading for June 25. The school committee and city administration may return with targeted changes if the council is to consider restoring funding before final adoption.
