Joint Finance Committee Aims to Stabilize Year-to-Year School Funding

Year-to-year stabilization of funding and improvements to the enabling legislation that formed the Bristol Warren Regional School District are the two primary items on the Joint Finance Committee’s agenda for its meeting Wednesday night, Dec. 11.

The Joint Finance Committee will meet in the Council Chamber in Bristol Town Hall at 7pm. 

Funding for the two towns that share the school district depends primarily on local student enrollments and the RI state funding formula. But that can cause a pendulum-like swing in what the town budgets each year for education.

A disagreement over the number of students Warren was expected to pay for has been a particular source of conflict over the past year. Warren actually withheld more than $400,000 in funding last year at its Financial Town Meeting. That led to a lawsuit that still has not been settled.

Another boost in Warren’s contribution this year is expected because of a reported boost in enrollment. Warren is already balking at paying more for schools while the state funding formula is expected not to be kind to the district again.

Here is the agenda for the meeting:

BRISTOL WARREN REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING 

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2013

 7:00 O’CLOCK PM 

BRISTOL TOWN HALL - COUNCIL CHAMBERS

10 COURT STREET, BRISTOL, RI 02809

AGENDA

1. Pledge of Allegiance

2. Welcome/Introductions

3. Approval of Minutes - November 13, 2013

4. Year to Year Funding Stabilization

5. Enabling Legislation Improvements 

6. Adjournment