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NORTH KINGSTOWN — After meeting with various department heads Monday night, the Town Council adopted a $93.2 million preliminary budget for the 2008-09 fiscal year.
The sum translates to a $13.84 tax rate, a 54 cent increase over the current year.
The council met with representatives and financial directors from the library, water, Quonset/Davisville recreation and school departments to wrap up budget discussions.
The library fund budget came in at a 4.07 percent increase and discussion started to preserve Sunday hours, which have been in place since 1996, in the event that it could possibly be eliminated.
“I’m a huge fan of the library. I feel it’s a gold standard facility and I would love to preserve Sunday hours, that’s the day of the most family activity,” Councilman John Patterson said.
“We see Sunday hours as one of the busiest days compared to Saturdays and Mondays. It’s become very popular,” library Director Susan Aylward said.
The water department’s $2.6 million budget request represents a 4.54 percent increase over the current year’s spending.
“The reason for the increase is that we’re required every three years to conduct certain tests and the third year has fallen this year. So that’s the reason for the increase. Also there were some health insurance increases since I submitted in the first draft of the budget,” Susan Licardi, director of water supply, said.
When the water budget was first submitted it was at an increase of 4.09 percent. The council will look try to reduct the increase back down to the original number by looking healthcare costs.
The 200-page budget details each department’s allocation and the proposed increase or decrease over the current budget.
The fire department is slated to receive a 2.97 percent increase, bringing its total budget to $7,980,770. The police department’s budget would increase 2.49 percent to $5,957,746. The public works department budget decreased 2.06 percent to $4,877,016.
Throughout the budget are quick facts informing the public on various information about the town. For example North Kingstown’s has the highest recycling rate in the state at 32 percent. This year the town paved 30 roads, equal to seven miles worth and by the end of fiscal year 2009, the town will have preserved 100 acres of land.
April 14 will be the town council preliminary budget hearing. For the complete budget visit www.northkingstown.org. |
