Legislators pledge to help towns dodge bond deadline
Four South County legislators said this week they are ready to assist North Kingstown and South Kingstown with exploring deadline extensions for state reimbursements for school construction projects.
Next June is the deadline for state reimbursements in the millions of dollars — up to 55% of certain construction costs. Additional time, say town officials, would help in planning projects whose tax increases voters might accept.
This comes as after voters turned out in North Kingstown last week in record numbers and rejected a colossal set of bonds totaling $247.4 million — the largest in town history — and packing a property tax punch that voters did not want to feel.
Included in that rejection was a new middle school, which officials have said was needed to replace two
aging middle schools. While no definitive reason has been established for that rejection, local residents and politicians offer the tax increase, a school construction package conditioned on approval also of a public safety complex and issues with one or two middle schools and the site selection process.
Watching from the sidelines are South Kingstown officials who pulled a $125 million high school construction project from voter consideration after estimated costs rose to about $150 million.
The South Kingstown Town Council Tuesday night decided to move forward with the maximum $150 million bond and will begin preparing for a referendum early next year for that town’s residents to consider the proposed new high school’s costs and design.
At the council meeting
Tuesday evening, town residents, high school teachers and students turned out to support the need for a new high school and pointed to many of the documented deficiencies, such as mold, leaking roof and rickety heating and air conditioning system that hamper everyday operations.
William Gates, a SKHS senior, noted the roller coaster of temperatures that start at 35 degrees in the building when he arrives and rises slowly through the morning and then falls to cold again by his 4th-period class. He stressed the need for a new high school.
“What is a community? It is something that has its members pay into its future,” he said.
Other speakers talked about the community’s values and where members stood in backing up a commitment with money for a new school
State Rep. Carol McEntee (D-33) also came to the Town Council meeting, chaired by her son, Rory McEntee, Town Council president.
“I moved to this town because of the education it would provide to my children — way back, maybe 30 years now. Do it (obtain a bond vote) now, You don’t have the luxury of time…I’ll do everything I can to kick that date out farther, but I can’t make any promises,” she said.
Kate Macinanti, school building committee chairto let the voters vote.”
It was also noted that the town may save about $7 million on the bond due to increased reimbursement on the square footage of the building. Council members also talked about using some school trust funds to help reduce costs.
Council member Deb Bergner sought another joint meeting with school officials, but was met with opposition from the majority of council members. They said budget meetings with school officials could cover the concerns.
It was also mentioned that state education department deadlines need to be satisfied in the coming weeks.
In both towns, officials have put a near $1,000 property tax hike — for different reasons — on the backs of taxpayers who have an assessed average home value of at least $460,000 in a skyrocketing South County real estate market.
“I would never reject more time to plan and get this thing right,” said South Kingstown Town Council Vice President Mike Marran, who was a member of the town’s School Committee, said in a separate interview.
Greg Mancini, North Kingstown Town Council president said, “I plan to put the request for assistance on the council agenda for next week.”
These requests are not surprising legislators.
Many said they understand the timeline bind now for redesigns, legislative approvals, and determining through voter referendums ing board once again.
State Rep. McEntee said in an interview earlier this week, “I am ready to help any way I can. These towns need their schools and we need to help them find ways to afford them.”
Agreeing with her was state Sen. Alana DiMario (D-36).
“When the General Assembly reconvenes in January for the 2024 session, I will await direction from the North Kingstown School Committee and Town Council on what advocacy and support are needed at the State House to meet the town’s needs and move forward with a revamped plan,” she said.
State Sen. Susan Sosnowski (D-37) said, “I am glad to introduce legislation that is requested by the South Kingstown Town Council by a Town Council resolution detailing their request.”
While she has yet to receive that request, she has discussed the matter with some council members interested in an extension.
State reimbursements, changing application deadlines for them, towns getting approvals to even offer voters a bond are linked to General Assembly approvals. It is in recess now until next year.
“I am aware of the funding deadline issue and am keeping in contact with the school districts in my area to see how long of an extension they are looking for,” said state Sen. Victoria Gu (D38).
“I support the change and didn’t make it into the budget, including bonus state reimbursements for using minority-owned businesses in the construction or renovation contracts — I have seen some interest in this locally,” she said.
“I also believe there was a bonus state reimbursement proposed for including energy efficiency and/or green technology in school construction or renovation,” she added.
In the mix of these reimbursement discussions are debates about how and whether local towns can cut costs elsewhere in the town and school budgets to make costs more acceptable and potentially lower tax increases.
Megan Reilly, who helped to organize the groundswell of opposition, said last week she hoped the vote sends a message.
“It was wonderful to see so many residents show up at the polls to ensure that their voices were heard. Clearly, the large turnout demonstrated how important of an issue these bonds were for members of our community,” Reilly said. most productive way forward would include more collaboration between our elected officials and the citizens of North Kingstown, something that I believe many of us would like to see happen.”
North Kingstown School Superintendent Kenney Duva said school officials are looking to re-group.
“We are going to bring prove our schools. We still have an opportunity to have a bond question on the ballot in the spring and that will be our focus,” he said.
“A survey will be going out to our community to gather feedback as to why the bond failed. We have a commitment to provide high-quality learning environments for our students,” he added.