Council Approves $95-Million Budget

The North Kingstown Town Council swiftly approved the fiscal year 2012 budget last night  – a budget that will raise property taxes by .

The $95-million budget is up approximately $2.3 million from last year, .

The town’s general fund will drop by $7,800 while the school department’s budget jumps by $2.5 million. According to Superintendent Phil Thornton in previous budget meetings, $1.2 million of that $2.5 million in increases will come from the department’s undesignated fund balance. Earlier this week, the Town Council voted to level-fund the department, denying its request for an additional $713,000 from the town.

For the average priced home in North Kingstown, approximately $328,000, the 2.79 percent tax hike would mean a $150 annual increase in taxes per household. Embury enumerated that the tax levy may be even lower than the approved $17.31 once the tax roll is certified by the assessor.

The increased levy adds $1.99 million dollars in tax money to the budget. According to Embury, this falls short of plugging the $2.2 million hole left by the departure of the motor vehicle excise tax reimbursement this year, hence the added cuts this year.

The new budget also freezes pay for numerous non-union town employees, saving the town $59,000. Additionally, eight vacant positions at the fire department will not be filled, totaling up to almost $450,000 saved.

The North Kingstown School Committee will meet May 10 at 7 p.m. at to discuss the budget.

2010-2011 Budget

2011-2012 Budget

Difference

General Fund

$24,937.007

$24,929,211

-$7,796

School Fund

$55,571,351

$58,092,043

+$2,520,692

Debt Service

$5,946,283

$5,493,088

-$453,195

Library Fund

$1,393,794

$1,420,732

+$26,938

Municipal Court

$254,100

$247,928

-$6,172

School Capital Reserve

$63,914

$117,300

+$53,386

Water Fund

$2,913,204

$3,096,381

+$183,177

Quonset/Davisville Recreation Fund

$1,820,170

$1,792,549

-$27,621

TOTAL

$92,899,823

$95,189,232

+$2,289,409