Council Denies School Budget Increases, For Now

Members of Newport City Council and the Newport School Committee agreed to put a requested $1.5 million increase to the school budget on hold during a joint budget workshop held on Thursday.

“The current school budget needs additional work,” said Mayor Harry Winthrop after the meeting. “We essentially told the School Committee that we would level fund them for now and would revisit their budget when the numbers are solid.”

When Newport City Council takes a final vote on the budget this summer, they are expected to appropriate $22.56 million, which is the same amount  they have allocated for the past three years.

School Committee Chairman Charles Shoemaker reviewed the budget highlights, which included the following revenue changes from the prior year:

• Reduction in federal aid of $70,680
• Increase of state aid of $62,945
• Loss of $1.5 million in one-time revenue
• Increase in tuition revenue of $70,000
• Increase of $119k in revenue from the Interlocal Trust

Shoemaker highlighted the following expenditure changes from the prior year:

• $72,000 in salary reductions
• $350k in increased benefit expenses.
• $225k in increased professional services
• $558k in increased purchased services
• $95k in reduced property purchases
• $349k in reduced miscellaneous expenses

Councilor Naomi Neville said they are trying to develop better communication between the school committee and council.

“We have encouraged the school committee to work more closely with the city staff to develop better planning strategies so that we can eliminate the past strategy of radical cuts that lead to unexpected school budget surpluses,” said Neville.

She added problems arise from council’s June budget deadline, yet the school's budgets develop in the summer, based on school enrollment. Councilor Justin McLaughlin went as far to say there are some on the school side who should feel “ashamed” at their inability to provide a timely budget.

Councilor Marco Camacho agreed.

"No completed budget, no increased funding. That's the fiscally responsible thing for us to do as a City Council," said Camacho.