Dept. of Revenue Tells Town it Must Engage With Coventry Fire District Issues

The Coventry Town Council’s hands-off approach toward the ongoing financial problems facing the Coventry Fire District could end up causing problems beyond the borders of the ailing fire district, according to officials from the state Department of Revenue.

DOR Acting Director David M. Sullivan has warned the Town Manager and Council that the council needs to engage its members in ongoing discussions with the state and fire district about the future of beleaguered district.

In fact, in a July 14 letter to the council, Sullivan said “the Department of Revenue is operating under the premise that the Town of Coventry will assume responsibility for the safety and well-being of its residents.”

“We fully expect the town to be taking the necessary steps to ensure that it will be able to provide fire protection services to the area covered by the Coventry Fire District in the event the district suspends its operations,” Sullivan wrote.

The DOR is ready to help the town under the Fiscal Stability Act, which makes it clear that “any and all costs incurred pursuant to the state’s involvement under the Fiscal Stability Act become obligations that must be paid by the locality.”

That means if the district does dissolve, Coventry taxpayers across the entire town could be footing the bill.

Sullivan urged the council and/or the Town Manager contact him immediately to discuss the matters.

The Coventry Fire District is running out of money and owes $900,000 in unpaid bills. Voters last month, in a nonbinding referendum, rejected a proposed one-time $600,000 tax to give the district a cash infusion.

The district was unable to make its full payroll last Friday.

The Coventry Fire District Board is set to meet tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Club Jogues, 184 Boston St., to discuss the ongoing crisis.

Read the complete letter, which was first reported on by WPRI’s Tim White, below: