Schools brace for $12M in budget increases next year

by ETHAN HARTLEY
Posted 2/19/19

By ETHAN HARTLEY As reported in a related school budget story in today's Beacon, the city of Warwick and the Warwick School Committee have committed to work together to conquer the $4.9 million school budget deficit that has plagued the system since last

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Schools brace for $12M in budget increases next year

Posted

As reported in a related school budget story in today’s Beacon, the city of Warwick and the Warwick School Committee have committed to work together to conquer the $4.9 million school budget deficit that has plagued the system since last June. But before any rejoicing, another larger and scarier budgetary beast looms like a children’s movie monster sharpening its claws.

As of today, without any fiscal adjustments that are expected to be made by the superintendent and his team of administrators, and without knowing exactly how much money will be coming in from the state, the Warwick School Department is looking at a projected increase of about $12 million in unbudgeted expenses for the fiscal year starting this July 1.

That figure includes a gamut of personnel and non-personnel costs, including $3 million in additional expenses for professional personnel – the majority of which comes from $2.2 million in increased costs associated with the 3 percent pay raise negotiated by the Warwick Teachers’ Union and administration as a means to solve the budgetary impasse in 2017. Comparatively, administrative salaries represent an increase of about $18,700 next fiscal year, due in part to the elimination of a building and grounds director.

Included in the budget preliminary review is a commitment to re-hire 15 second shift custodians, which finance director Anthony Ferrucci described during his presentation – where he calculated in real time the cost increases during the open meeting in an Excel spreadsheet on a large projector screen – as a top priority. The measure would add $750,000 to the budget, which, along with pay increases for WISE union staff would amount to $1.18 million additional for FY2020.

“We are all in absolute agreement that they need to come back. It's critical to our district,” Ferrucci said about the custodians. “We know that, and we're going to push for it.”

However, the biggest increase in expenses as an aggregate for the school department comes from about $6.5 million in non-staff-related increases. The majority of this comes from about $4 million in increased cost of fringe benefits, including a conservative estimate of 8 percent increases in premium costs and the consequences of claims being significantly higher than anticipated in the previous year requiring payback to the WB Community Health plan.

Out of district tuition – which has been a regular gripe from the district and was one of the denied waiver requests submitted by the city to the state department of education – is projected to increase by $1.18 million from the current budget. Transportation costs are increasing by $114,000, and charter school tuition costs are rising $222,000.

A new mandate from the state that accompanied its $250 million bond proposal was that all municipalities have to dedicate a minimum of 1.5 percent of their total overall school budget to funding building maintenance. This translates to a $2.5 million increase which, after reductions in maintenance staffing and “other supplies” leaves a $717,000 unbudgeted increase for the next fiscal year.

Not to be left out, Ferrucci specifically highlighted the re-addition of the Mentor Rhode Island budget figure of $102,000 to next year’s budget, which drew applause from the audience.

“We're going to want it to come back next year,” Ferrucci said. “Everyone is in agreement with that and we're going to push hard.”

Ferrucci said that the $12 million number would go down if (or when) the city contributes funds to close the current year budgetary gap. However, that is provided that the city commits to providing that funding next year as well.

“It will reduce the numbers that I'm putting up on the chart, but we are very sensitive that if the city finds an allocation for this year to give us funding for this school year, they're going to have to find that funding again next year to sustain it. That may mean a tax increase in order to generate that funding,” he said. “We may have some reduction, but we're still faced with a significant potential increase, which we know will be compounded.”

School committee members were blunter in their observations regarding the concerning news.

“We have a long way to go. We are just beginning the budget process,” chairwoman Karen Bachus said on Monday. “I am hopeful that we'll be able to cut that down significantly. Then again, hope springs eternal…If we really need that kind of money we’re in big trouble. I don’t think the city can afford it.”

“The only regret I have is that you didn't wear a black hood and carry a sickle,” said committee member David Testa after the presentation, drawing laughs from the audience and from Ferrucci. “The last one [deficit] was difficult...But it's going to be like a tea party with little cucumber sandwiches compared to this one...Buckle up.”

Comments

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  • davebarry109

    Well, I'm glad they are all laughing. We cannot afford these types of budget increases. Something must be done. Let's start with frezzing salaries. No more 3% raises every year. That is unsustainable.

    Wednesday, February 20, 2019 Report this

  • PaulHuff

    Great job school committee. Keep handing out 3% raises every year without thinking about where the money comes from.

    Wednesday, February 20, 2019 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Dear readers,

    Don't blame the teachers for a measly 3% raise that they had to fight for 2 years to get. That's unfair.

    Do, however, give credit to the new School Committee, Anthony Ferrucci, Karen Bachus, The Warwick City Council and Mayor Solomon for working massive-overtime to make ends meet. They WILL find a common ground. It won't be easy. It won't be immediate. It won't be inexpensive, but it WILL get done. We should all thank them for their efforts.

    Happy St. Patricks everyone.

    Rick Corrente

    The Taxpayers Mayor

    Wednesday, February 20, 2019 Report this

  • wwkvoter

    Corrente is no one's mayor who says nothing while talking in generalities and circles.

    Anyway, how much will 12mil more expenses increase the tax rate per thousand?

    Wednesday, February 20, 2019 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    bear in mind that the last contract that was negotiated gave away 13.46 million in raises. Where is that money coming from Dickie?

    Thursday, February 21, 2019 Report this

  • SCOT63

    Captain Crunch your offering all kinds of money , you should donate!!!

    Thursday, February 21, 2019 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Donating to compensate substandard teachers in substandard buildings who produce substandard results is not high on my priority list. But I will be more than happy to donate to purchase a number of more sets of handcuffs to be utilized as they march people out of Station 1, RIPTA, and city hall.

    Thursday, February 21, 2019 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Dear wwkvoter,

    AKA Henry Krinkle of 154 Hopper Ave. Warwick R.I.

    Henry, I'll repeat my offer. You stop accusing me of "not being the mayor" and I will stop letting everyone know your true, honest identity. I don't speak in generalities or circles and I don't hide behind a fake name like you do.

    Dear scot63,

    You gave me a good laugh. Thanks!

    (Captain Crunch! HA!)

    Happy St. Patricks everyone.

    Rick Corrente

    The Taxpayers Mayor

    Thursday, February 21, 2019 Report this

  • wwkvoter

    AGAIN PLEASE STOP USING MY NAME. ITS WRONG. AND NO YOU ARE NOT THE MAYOR OF ANYTHING, SORRY.

    Thursday, February 21, 2019 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Dear wwkvoter,

    You play by unfair rules.

    You think it's OK to attack me when I call myself "The Taxpayers Mayor" but you get mad when I give you a taste of your own medicine.

    If you can use any screen name you like, so can I.

    Here is my offer once again. Either we BOTH agree that we BOTH have the right to call ourselves whatever we want or we BOTH don't. I WILL NOT call you Henry Krinkle of 154 Hopper Ave. Warwick R.I. 02889, the day you stop complaining about me calling myself "The Taxpayers Mayor". I have JUST as much right as you do, and if you don't think that is fair...GOOD!

    You didn't spend $40,000+ and campaign for 700 days in a row for the benefit of the 80,000 taxpayers who are paying the tab but I DID!

    Have a Happy St. Patricks Henry! Oh Henry!

    Happy St. Patricks everyone.

    Rick Corrente

    The Taxpayers Mayor

    Thursday, February 21, 2019 Report this

  • davebarry109

    Mr. Corrente. Once again, there are not 80,000 taxpayers in Warwick. There are 82,000 citizens/residents. There are about 39,000 taxpayers. The remainder are children or those otherwise not paying taxes. Math matters.

    Friday, February 22, 2019 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Dear Daveberry,

    I respect, but disagree with your findings. I feel that all people are taxpayers directly, or indirectly. I'm not wrong. Neither are you. We have 2 different opinions of the same mass of people. The math isn't different, just the labels.

    Happy St. Patricks Dave.

    Happy St. Patricks everyone.

    Rick Corrente

    The Taxpayers Mayor

    Saturday, February 23, 2019 Report this

  • DannyHall82

    So someone that doesn’t pay taxes is considered a taxpayer?

    Saturday, February 23, 2019 Report this

  • Samuel

    Danny Hall Stacia considers herself a taxpayer but she isn't. Her husband (the person with an actual paying job) is the taxpayer.

    Saturday, February 23, 2019 Report this

  • wwkvoter

    Again, with all the supposedly smart people commenting (plus a few other types), how much would the tax rate have to go up to cover 12 million more dollars? According to my estimation, over 5% tax hike. That would take a 3500 property tax bill such as mine up $175 more! And that doesnt include the CITY increase to cover those annual pay raises and increased expenses.

    Sunday, February 24, 2019 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Dear DannyHall82,

    I believe that everyone who lives in Warwick pays taxes either directly or indirectly. You and I from a checkbook. Our children by benefiting or not benefiting from how much their parents pay. You can feel free to disagree with me (davebarry does) but if taxes were cut wouldn't everyone benefit? If taxes go up, doesn't it hurt everyone?

    Happy St. Patricks Danny to you, your wife, and your little one. How are the "terrible-two's"? I still remember mine (twice!)

    Happy St. Patrick everyone.

    Rick Corrente

    The Taxpayers Mayor

    Monday, February 25, 2019 Report this

  • wwkvoter

    There is no accepted definition of "taxpayer" that includes the entire population. Just as there is no political office called "taxpayers mayor" BUT, there IS a definition for delusional:

    DELUSIONAL - characterized by or holding idiosyncratic beliefs or impressions that are contradicted by reality or rational argument, typically as a symptom of mental disorder.

    based on or having faulty judgmenT

    Tuesday, February 26, 2019 Report this

  • Cat2222

    Hence why RC isn't the Mayor of Warwick. The taxpayers voted for another Mayor of Taxpayers.

    Tuesday, February 26, 2019 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Dear Cat,

    I refused to accept ANY Political Action Committee (PAC) donations. They are given for on reason and one reason ONLY. To get something in return. For that reason I feel they should be illegal. In my 2016 campaign Avedisian received 237 checks from PACS. That paid for a LOT of advertising and purchased a LOT of votes. I chose to refuse them. Think of me any way you wish but I did it again in 2018 and would do it again today preferring to be true to myself rather than selling out to the PAC's. That is the worst part of politics and the reason, I believe, that it's such a dirty business. I'm glad I did it but I won't do it again. You can hold me accountable for that.

    Hao about you?

    Happy St. Patricks Cat

    Happy St. Patricks everyone.

    Rick Corrente

    The Taxpayers Mayor

    Monday, March 4, 2019 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Dear Cat,

    I refused to accept ANY Political Action Committee (PAC) donations. They are given for on reason and one reason ONLY. To get something in return. For that reason I feel they should be illegal. In my 2016 campaign Avedisian received 237 checks from PACS. That paid for a LOT of advertising and purchased a LOT of votes. I chose to refuse them. Think of me any way you wish but I did it again in 2018 and would do it again today preferring to be true to myself rather than selling out to the "paybacks" of the PAC's. That is the worst part of politics and the reason, I believe, that it's such a dirty business. I'm glad I did it but I won't do it again. You can hold me accountable for that.

    Hao about you?

    Happy St. Patricks Cat

    Happy St. Patricks everyone.

    Rick Corrente

    The Taxpayers Mayor

    Monday, March 4, 2019 Report this