Two Local Ballot Questions for EG Voters

It isn't just local people on the local ballot, there are two voter referendum questions on the East Greenwich ballot initiatives, as well.

The first ballot question asks local voters to weigh in on a $1 million bond to repair several local roads in town. The other asks voters if the town should be required to mail to residents a copy of the proposed budget.

Roads bond

The roads bond has recieved much more attention.

Earlier this year, Town Manager Bill Sequino asked the Council to consider putting a $2 million bond to fix failing local roads on the November ballot. In July, the Council agreed to put a $1 million bond on the ballot that would be spent on fixing some of the worse roads in town.

According to Public Works Director Joe Duarte, there are some 31 local roads, most of which are west of Route 2, that are in need of repair. The town spends about $250,000 annual on road repairs, but with all the new sewer lines that have been installed east of Route 2 in recent years, this area of town has gotten much of the road repair attention. Roads west of Route 2 haven't been repaired as often, Sequino said.

During the debate about whether or not to put the measure on the ballot, the Council agreed that there were many roads in need of repair. However, they were all concerned with the debt service that the repairs would ad to the overall budget.

"I understand the need for road repairs," Town Council President Michael Isaacs said in June. "But I have reservations about another bond issue at the present time. I'm leery about taking on more debt."

If voters approve the bond, it would add $270,000 in debt service to next fiscal year's budget. This would be on top of anywhere between $3 million and $6 million in debt service that will already be in next fiscal year's budget, depending on whether or not the Cole construction and high school renovation bond comes on line in next fiscal year or in 2013.

Budget postcard

The other referendum question on the East Greenwich ballot could do away with a recent change to the charter requiring the town to mail a postcard detailing the proposed fiscal year budget to every residence in town.

"We go to great lengths to publicize all of our budget hearings, and we're lucky if a few people show up for those meetings," Sequino said. "Given how tight everyone wants us to operate, we can do the same thing [as the postcard] on the website for free."

Sending out the postcard to some 4,500 homes in East Greenwich costs the town about $1,600 annually.

"If it doesn't pass," Sequino said, "we'll continue to do it and hope we get a better response."

The requirement that the town mail out budget information was added by the Charter Review Committee in 2005.