Emotions Run High Ahead Of Second Coventry Budget Vote

COVENTRY, RI — Ahead of Coventry's second all-day budget referendum on Thursday, emotions are once again running high. At a special town meeting on Tuesday night, residents passionately spoke both in favor and against the amended budget.

The town's Republican party is calling for residents to turn down the amended budget, saying both the town and the school department needed to "tighten their belts."

"Coventry's Republicans this week voted overwhelmingly against passage of the fiscal 2020 budget during the June 13, 2019 all-day referendum," the party said in a press release. "By rejecting the budget, we are putting the School Department on notice to live within its means and cut out the waste."

After the first budget was defeated on May 14, town and school officials said severe cuts would be needed across the board to fund the town government and schools at the same level as last year.

On Tuesday, residents spoke both in favor of and against the amended budget. One woman, who said she raised several children in the school district, said that while teachers are one of the town's most valuable resources, better negotiations are needed in future union contract negotiations so the town won't constantly be forced to pull funds from other areas or increase taxes to meet mandatory pay raises.

"I don't think we have to pass this budget for the sake of school programs, I think we have to pass this budget for the sake of the entire town," said Nicholas Zammarelli, an elementary school music teacher who said Coventry one of the few places where he feels completely safe as a blind person.

Thursday's all-day budget referendum will be held from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in each of the town's five districts. The voting locations are as follows:

• District One: Saint Francis Church, 132 Peckham Lane
• District Two: Town Council Chambers, 1670 Flat River Rd.
• District Three: Club Jogues, 184 Boston St.
• District Four: Oak Haven School, 46 Pettine St.
• District Five: Westwood Estates Club House, 1A Liena Rose Way

Should the budget once again fail, the amendment process would begin again, pushing the third vote into the new fiscal year. By law, the town would be required to function on a level-funded budget until a new one is approved by voters.

Watch Tuesday's entire town meeting here.

Patch's full coverage of the Coventry budget crisis:

• Coventry Town Manager: 'Very Real Impacts' If New Budget Fails
• Coventry Residents To Vote On New Budget June 13
• Coventry Town Council Adopts New Budget, Residents To Vote
• Breaking Down The Numbers: Coventry's Four Budget Options
• 385 Coventry Teachers Receive Precautionary Pink Slips
• Coventry Community Irate As 500 Teacher Layoffs Loom
• Double Sessions, Teacher Layoffs Planned For Coventry Schools