Council OKs Warwick Schools Budget Commission Jan. 22

WARWICK, RI — Despite School Committee Chairman Shaun Galligan’s best efforts, the clock is ticking on Warwick Schools’ solution to its $9 million deficit before a Warwick Schools Budget Commission is appointed to take the fiscal baton from elected hands.

Galligan attended the Warwick City Council’s special meeting Wednesday, with the support of many concerned citizens, including City Councilor Jeremy Rix and Pilgrim High Senior Class President Keaney Bayha, among others.

Galligan said that at the time the budget commission had been proposed, the School Committee had already cut $2.8M from the deficit. Since then, he said, he and members of the Committee were able to cut the deficit further to about $3 million, with guidance from RI Auditor General David Bergantino, who recommended the commission.  Bergantino has said he’d continue to provide guidance to the department whether the commission is established or not.

Galligan argued that the Committee had already made substantial progress on cutting the deficit and is likely to resolve the entire problem before a commission can be established following the General Assembly’s approval of the idea, hopefully on Feb. 28. He said they’re on track to do that without the special help of an appointed budget commission.

Warwick Schools Budget Commission Cons

“Wouldn’t it instead make more sense for the elected officials of the schools and the city to work together for the betterment of all?” Bayha asked, saying she’s opposed to using an appointed commission to fix the problem.

“This is a projected deficit. It’s not a deficit yet,” said Michael Zarum of the Warwick Schools Budget Commission plan. He said he didn’t think the legislation was likely to be passed by the General Assembly.

Warwick Schools Budget Commission Pros

Others at the special Council meeting, called at the urging of Mayor Frank Picozzi to vote on legislation establishing the Warwick Schools Budget Commission, cited little time before a FY25 correction and FY26 budget need to be passed. RI Auditor General David Bergantino, who had already recommended a Budget Commission, which he said would provide the necessary resources for the quick action needed, reiterated his position of urgency.

Likewise, Warwick Finance Director Peder Schaefer and Ernest Almonte, owner of Almonte Group LLC, recently retired Executive Director of the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns, each told the Council a Budget Commission for the schools would be the best course. Almonte said he couldn’t see how else the problem could be remedied soon enough.

But a series of questions between Councilman Bill Muto and Galligan established the Committee’s remedy to the situation could run concurrently to the process to get the General Assembly to approve a Commission, then staff it.

“The way I look at what we can do through this is more of a belt and suspenders approach,” said Councilman Vinny  Gebhart. While the transparency of the School Committee, particularly that of Galligan, provided confidence in the schools’ ability to handle the deficit, the problem’s very existence demonstrated a need for outside eyes.

“We didn’t arrive here because the house is in order,” Gebhart said.

The vote to establish the Commission passed 7 to 1, with Councilman Rix voting against. The General Assembly now has 30 to 60 days to approve the request to set up the Commission.