Wednesday, March 28, 2012
The school budget passed with a 2.25 percent contribution increase over the FY12 budget with in a 6-3 vote with opposition from the members representing the town of Warren.
Correction: The Joint Finance Committee approved a 2.25 percent increase in town contributions. Overall, school budget will increase .45 percent over FY12. After the Joint Finance Committee's Warren representatives were shot down in a 3-6 vote in a motion to level fund the district, the Joint finance Committee passed the Bristol Warren Regional School District FY13 budget with a 2.25 percent increase in contribution from the two towns over the FY12 budget. The budget passed 6-3, with all Bristol representatives voting in favor and all members representing Warren voting against. The meeting drew less than 100 teachers, administrators, school committee members and members of the public who attended in either support or opposition to the …
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
In the Administrator's proposed budget, most employees could see a 3 percent increase in salary while others could see a 5 percent increase.
While the town of Bristol has attempted to cut corners on departmental budgets to keep the the tax rate stable, Bristol Town Councilors questioned the Administrator's proposed salary increases for some town employees. "Overall, there's about a three percent increase for most positions," said Town Administrator Diane Mederos. "There are a few who I recommended about a five percent increase for." According to the proposed budget, Town Hall employees including the Principal Planner and Zoning Official, the Director of Community Development, the Administrator's Executive Secretary, and two employees in the Finance Department could see a five percent increase in salary for FY13. Councilor Mary Parella spoke up first. "I think it is kind of high…
Bristol residents could see no change in their 2013 property tax bill depending on finalized contributions to the school district.
If adopted as presented, the Bristol Town Administrator's proposed municipal budget for FY13 would leave the tax rate at $12.41 per thousand dollars, the same as the approved tax rate for FY12. "This year I think we can take a bit of a breath... it's a bit of a reprieve," said Administrator Diane Mederos. Last year the town of Bristol approved a budget with a tax rate increase of 20 percent to cover losses in state aid, increase in pension and health care contributions and loss in revenue from property tax due to property reassessments. But this year, Mederos claims the town is in a good place financially. Mederos noted that the town was expecting to have to contribute more to pensions in FY13, but that recent changes in the pension system…
Monday, March 19, 2012
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 27 at 7 pm at Mt. Hope High School.
Compared to last year, the Joint Finance Committee meeting regarding the school budget that was held on Thursday, March 8, was a very calm, collected and civil atmosphere. The evening started off with a presentation from Superintendent Melinda Thies, who explained that the school district has come a long way over the years, but more progress needs to be made. With the requested funding from the towns of Bristol and Warren, Thies says the district will be on the right path. "The investment you make in your school district is a long-term investment in the economic wellbeing and health of both of your communities," Thies said. Thies explained that over the last six years, the district has made numerous sacrafices to keep the costs of …
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
The Joint Finance Committee will hold an informational meeting for the public on Thursday evening.
The Bristol Warren Regional School District will present the proposed 2013 district budget to the Joint Finance Committee meeting this week. It will be reviewed publicly on Thursday at Kickemuit Middle School. The district has requested a four percent increase from the approved fiscal year 2012 budget, which by law, is the maximum allowed increase. The proposed budget is likely to face resistance from the towns of Bristol and Warren. According to figures provided in the school district's budget request, the towns of Bristol and Warren are being asked to contribute approximately $1.3 million more than their 2011 contributions. If the district budget is approved as is by the Joint Finance Committee, the Town of Warren would be responsible …
41.730373
-71.2596
Kickemuit Middle School
525 Child St, Warren, RI
/articles/school-district-seeks-1-3-million-funding-increase-in-2013
499431
/locations/6585300
41.686849
-71.27029
Mt. Hope High School
199 Chestnut St, Bristol, RI
/articles/school-district-seeks-1-3-million-funding-increase-in-2013
497436
/locations/6585301
Thursday, March 1, 2012
A Letter to the Editor from Raymond Palmieri Sr.
- GOVERNMENT
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Thursday, March 1, 2012
I attended last night's Bristol Town Council meeting and submitted a written request to speak on the agenda item to reappoint Mr. Sylvia to the BCWA Board of Directors. Prior to the meeting I was asked by Mr. Marshall what I wished to speak about. I asked if they would be voting on the reappointment or was it just for discussion. He said they would be voting, so I told him I wished to speak on the process of selection without advertising for other applicants and about getting recommendations from the leaders of the town's political parties. When that agenda item came up, Mr. Barboza immediately made a motion to approve, which was seconded by Mr. Marshall. Mr. Teixeira spoke up stating that he felt based on the BCWA Legislation Review …
Friday, January 13, 2012
A workshop has been scheduled to discuss the idea of building a wind farm in Tiverton.
The potential construction of a wind farm in Tiverton could bring Bristol and Warren revenue from the sale of electricity A workshop has been scheduled for Jan. 30 with the nine towns, including Bristol and Warren, that make up the East Bay Energy Consortium (EBEC) to discuss a possible wind farm cooperative. The meeting will take place at 7 p.m. at the Tiverton Town Hall. On Tuesday, ecoRI reported that EBEC's goal is to create a regional alternative energy source that make up its nine towns - Bristol, Warren, Tiverton, Little Compton, Portsmouth, Middletown, Newport, Barrington and East Providence - and ultimately share revenue from the sale of electricity. EBEC is reportedly looking to install solar arrays as part of the project and is …
Monday, November 7, 2011
A special workshop involving increased fees made no new progress on Wednesday night.
Boat owners who use the Bristol town docks and moorings had an opportunity to voice their opinions on the possible rise of fees they may be charged in the near future on Wednesday night, but the Town Council is no closer to a final decision than at the last meeting. About 30 people showed up for the special workshop held by the Bristol Town Council at Town Hall, many to voice their opinions in opposition to the fee increase. Earlier this year, the Harbormaster and Assistant Harbormaster evaluated the current costs and researched the fees from several other communities before suggesting to increase the Bristol fees nearly 50 percent. But after being evaluated, the town proposed a 15 percent increase over the next three years. During the …
Friday, October 21, 2011
Bristol Town Council did not vote on the ordinance, but decided to hold a workshop to address the issue in the future.
On Wednesday evening, Bristol residents and boat owners piled in to the Town Hall to voice their opposition to proposed dock and mooring fee increases. “We understand the town needs money and cost of living has gone up,” said Bob Hammel of the Bristol Yacht Club. “But boating in this town feeds this town and I don’t think we should be biting the hand that feed us.” Earlier this year, the Harbormaster and Assistant Harbormaster evaluated the current costs and researched the fees from several other communities before suggesting to increase the Bristol fees nearly 50 percent. After being evaluated by the town, a 15 percent increase over the next three years, totaling a 45 percent increase was proposed. "We felt that would be a good …
Friday, July 29, 2011
Missed the town council meeting Wednesday night? We've got you covered with a recap of the big issues.
Tax Bill Trouble Councilman Antonio Teixeira clarified that while some bills brandish the year 2010-2011, the tax bill is in fact for the 2011-2012 year. The amount remains the current amount that needs to be payed. "Please don't assume that you're paying your bill twice," he stated. Evelyn Spagnolo, Tax Assessor to the town, said that roughly 20% of the bills went out marked as the wrong billing year. Herreshoff, Council to Explore Tax Hike Cap Councilman Halsey Herreshoff proposed to the rest of the council a limit on tax assessment increases for property owners, to protect homeowners in the town from financial hardship, adding that dramatic increases may result in property owners "los[ing] their home." The council would need to ask that…
ROBERT PATTERSON
11:09 am on Friday, March 30, 2012
LETS GET REAL FOLKS,,,,WARREN NEEDS TO GET OUT OF THE SCHOOL BUSINESS,,,AND IT IS A BUSINESS,,,LETS GO TO A VOUCHER SYSTEM AND ELLIMINATE THE SALARIES, PENSIONS,FOOD SERVICES,BUS SERVICES, AND LET THE PARENTS DECIDE WHERE TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO GET A GOOD EDUCATION. more ›