North Kingstown Taxpayers Organization

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NK taxpayers see the "value" in educating our children and giving them extracurricular opportunities, along with maintaining roads and dams, providing services for senior citizens, and providing public safety. 

Keeping those priorities in mind, we cannot afford to "waste" taxpayers' dollars, particularly during this period of budget crisis at both the state and local level and while people are being taxed out of their homes. 

NK taxpayers are looking for accountability, transparency and fairness.
North Kingstown Taxpayer’s Organization
Budget Forums
Watch Video of Each Forum Online
Each Forum will be held at the
North kingstown Public Library
6:30-8:30 PM

And will be aired on public access cable
Cox Channel 17, and Verizon Channel 37
The February 18th meeting is currently being aired on Wednesdays at 7:00 P.M. on the following dates:
March 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st

Prior Forums:

December 17th

Town Manager and Superintendent Discussed the Current 2009-2010 Budget as Well As Their Plans for the 2010-2011
View Video Online
Moderated by: 
Larry Valencia, President of Operation Clean Government.
 
January 14
Governor's 2010 Supplemental how it will impact NK Taxpayers
View Video Online
Featured Guest:
Gary Sasse, Director of the Governor's Department of Administration
February 18
Budget Transparency (Access to Public Records) and Budget Compliance

View Video Online and
Currently being aired on public access TV
Wednesdays 7:00 P.M. 3/10, 3/17/, 3/24/, 3/31

Featured Guests:
 Professor Barbara Meagher
University of Rhode Island Department of Journalism
William J. Felkner
Founder and President of the Ocean State Policy Research Institute

------------



Due to the tremendous challenges that we are facing in the current year, next year, and perhaps longer,
The North Kingstown Taxpayer’s Organization has organized a series of Budget Forums.
The Town Manager and Superintendent are invited to each forum to discuss and update the public in regard to the current 2009-2010 budget as well as their plans for the 2010-2011 budget, which was aproved by the Town Council on may 5th.

 
Next Scheduled NKTO Budget Forum:
May 20th from 6:30-8:30 at the North Kingstown Public Library

Analysis of the Recently Adopted 2011 Budget
Was it Compliant, Credible, Transparent and Fair?
Also what can we expect next year and in the future?

As we have done with each prior forum we will again ask the Town Manager and Superintendent to participate in the forum

The forum will be , and each will be taped for broadcast on public access cable.


March 18 Forum was cosponsored along withThe Washington County Consolidation Group

“IT Consolidation and Shared Services”Along with Budget discussion we had presentations on: Lean Government; Global Government/Education Consolidation Trends and RI Consolidation Local Government and School Opportunities
Featured guests included:
Karl Wadensten - Lean Nation Host, VIBCO President and EDC member
URI Management Science Prof. George DeLodziaRob Cass, Cisco Systems, Inc.Miguel Ferreira Atrion Networking, Corp.







Last Year's Budget Process

THIS IS  NOT A  GOOD YEAR  TO RAISE   NK TAXES !!!

No Taxation Without Consolidation



 

 

******** NKTO NEWS **********

 

  We are continuing our work to have the Town Council hold the line on any tax increase for the residents of North Kingstown. Hopefully you have seen some of the signs around town.

 

THIS IS  NOT A  GOOD YEAR  TO RAISE   NK TAXES !!!

 

NK:   ZERO

 

The Town Council had asked the School Department for a 2% and 0% budget increases.

Unfortunately, thus far, the School Department has decided to not only ignore the request from the Town Council, but also ignore citizen’s requests at meetings and the signs that Taxpayers have paid to put around North Kingstown.

 

School Fund Proposed Budget of $57,957,070

Which represents 2% Increase of $1,078,333  (FY 2009 vs. 2010)

 

The Town Manager has Proposed 4.8% Decrease in the Town Operating Budget
Cuts to Every Department: Fire, Police, Public Works and Town Hall

Which Represents a Decrease of $1,201,507 (FY 2009 vs. 2010)

 

NK:   ZERO
 NO Increase in Taxes Requires Additional Cuts of $1,225,000.00

 

There is no question that in order to contain continued budget increases, not just this year, but also in future years.  The NKTO believes that this can be done without service cuts to students or taxpayers.  We have proposed specific cuts to employee salaries, increases health care co-pay and consolidation. 

 

There are some labor contracts in place that have some salaries rising by nearly 10% this year and concessions should be sought, as well as more care in negotiating these contracts in the future.   For example a cut of 4 teacher professional development days, which the teachers complain that they don’t do anything, would save almost half of what is needed to get to a Zero Tax increase.

 

Consolidation has been identified as a priority during the past four Budgets, yet very little savings have been realized.  Unfortunately, there has been resistance, primarily from the School Department to merging administrative functions such as: Information Technology, Maintenance and Finance.  The resulting “turf war” has led to, amongst other things, School Committee Special Budget being unavailable to the public.  For example we have 4 times as many people in or School IT department as the City of East Providence has for their consolidated City and Town IT.  It is estimated that we could save approximately $300,000.00 without impacting one child.

We support the Town manager’s proposal to consolidate the school and Town offices at Wickford Elementary which could be a catalyst for further administrative conso0lidation.

 

We have told the Town Council and School Committee that we are going to put signs around Town that say: No Taxation Without Consolidation

 

Here are some of the issues and results we have been pushing in public and in one-on-one meetings:

- School committee has taken out the Administration formula that linked their salaries to the teachers’ contracted salaries 

- School committee has voted to ask the Teachers to open the contract and look at a 0% wage increase and match of the State healthcare co-pay of 25%.  However, to date, the administration has not been successful. 

- Consolidation of IT which was on hold is now about 80% probability.  Research and very heavy pressure we applied

- Consolidation of maintenance departments- perhaps a 40%- 50% probability next year.

- Consolidation of Finance- maybe 20% probability next year

- Consolidation and reorganization of Food services School and Senior Center has initial approval of SC

 

  Also, the Town Council has had closed sessions to discuss labor contracts and we can only assume they are in negotiation with the unions, hopefully seeking level funded salaries. We have no information on possible outcomes yet.

 

We are anticipating a budget referendum  if there is a tax increase in this dismal fiscal year. The process goes like this:

1.   The Manager releases the preliminary budget where we get the numbers. This includes the School budget.

2.   There are Public hearings on both budgets where you get to comment. We need you to come to these meetings! They will be:

 

The Town Budget:   Monday,  April 13th,

7 pm at the High School

 

The School Budget:    Monday,  April 20th

7 pm at the High School

 

3.   After the Public Hearings, and with 50 signatures a Petition can be presented to the Council for any budget reduction, and they must vote on the petition by May 6th.

4.   Regardless of the Council’s vote on the 50-signature petition, a 300 signature Petition can be presented requiring a mandatory voter referendum on the budget that will be held in early June.

 

 

 

We encourage you to write to the Town Council, School Committee and to the newspapers to express your opinions about the possible increases .

 

 

                                  Go to our  website: http://www.nktaxpayers.org and click on “Take Action”

 

Please stay tuned as these issues develop! (And pay your membership donation if you haven’t already.)

 

Thanks,

 

Jim McGwin

President

North Kingstown Taxpayers Oganization

 

 

 

________________________________________________________________________________________

Brought to you by the North Kingstown Taxpayers Organization  (NKTO). We encourage your membership and we need and use funds only to pay for copies, postage and newspaper advertising. Membership is $15 per person, $25 per family. Please supply name, address, and email address:

 

NKTO,  PO Box 1286,  N. Kingstown, RI 02852

Jim McGwinn, Pres.  884-4802,        Vic Fasolino, V.P.  294-7513  Dick Bee, V.P. 294-8532
On APRIL 17, 2002 NK Town Council meeting minutes reflect that then “Representative Benson (now a member of the school committee) cautioned the School Committee to be conservative because the State is out of money. North Kingstown has the largest population in the State of homeowners over the age of 65 and is proud that the Town Council recognizes that in their taxes.”
 
Considering the current, more serious financial crisis, THIS IS NOT A GOOD YEAR TO RAISE   NK TAXES!!!
 
By continuing to increase taxes to the point that industry and jobs will not come to RI, by driving our retiring population away, by compelling our young graduates to find greener grass in other states, by securing our present individual benefits at the cost of the future…..Are we really making Rhode Island a better place to live for tomorrow?  For business, families, retirees or our children?
 
NK Taxpayers do not support cutting teachers while maintaining redundant overhead within the same town. We have been talking about consolidation for years but haven’t made any real progress because of “governance issues,” another way of saying “turf” issues. Enough rhetoric!
    • Statewide, only 52% is used for Instruction (in class teaching) Last year’s NK school budget identified that only 47% was to be used for:
      • Teachers salaries and benefits
      • Paraprofessional salaries and benefits
      • Substitutes
      • Classroom Materials
      • In Class Technology
    • That says to NK Taxpayers that 48% of education spending presents an opportunity for savings
      • We estimate a conservative 10-15% potential savings by eliminating “waste” - anything that does not add value
      • Supplies purchasing and inventory control
      • Redundant functions (Management staff) within the same City/Town
        • Finance department
        • Personnel
        • Maintenance
        • Information technology
 
Also, NK Taxpayers do not support cutting any sport or extracurricular activity, particularly while there is such a disparity between the “haves and have nots.” Particularly when, one team receives over $50K each year while another gets no funding from the school general fund and is “pay for play, which is against State law.
 
We are encouraged by that our Superintendent, Town manager, School Committee and Town Council can work together for our Town’s future.
 
Jim McGwin
President
NK Taxpayers Organization
 
 


Comments made to the: North Kingstown Town Council    1-26-09

 

               Budget Suggestions For 09-10 And Beyond

 

 

Town Manager Embury and his directors have, for the last few months been struggling with the directive from the council to prepare a budget with little or no impact to the taxpayers.

 

The national recession coupled with the years of fiscal mismanagement of the state budget by the Rhode Island House and Senate have left this state in a financial meltdown of their own making.

 

Years of over spending and the use of one time only moneys to cover up the problem have not been successful, nor were they the actions of people with financial wisdom.

 

The actions of the governor to clean up this irresponsible fiscal mess have been met with unwarranted criticism.   

 

The fiscal state problems have been transferred to the Rhode Island communities at a time when they and the local taxpayers are least prepared  or capable of handling this extra financial burden.

 

State aid is being reduced, many taxpayers are unemployed, some have lost their home to foreclosure, senior citizens have had their 401k investments reduced by 30%-40% and utility costs have risen to unprecedented highs.

 

During the years I have been a taxpayer and resident, our town employees have been compensated very generously by the taxpayers of North Kingstown.

 

There has never been an action to reduce or take away benefits bargained for ------ but now things are different-the taxpayers never bargained for a national recession and a Rhode Island unemployment rate of 10%.

 

Mr Embury and counter parts at the school administration have been looking at deductions in personnel and other items that could be reduced to manage the 09-10 budget.

 

This recession will get worse and will certainly make the 10-11  budget process a nightmare-- with service reductions unacceptable and a school program that may not be viable without tax increases.

 

The largest budget item for any town and school is salaries and benefits.

 

I think this is the time when our employees have a chance to “give back” to the citizens and taxpayers of North Kingstown who have been so generous to them over the years.

 

It is also a time to heed the call of President Obama “That it is a time for all to sacrifice.”

 

I am asking the town council and our union and non union employees consider forgoing their contracts for a  period of time and have their salaries frozen .—  This time period would be determined by the council and school committee.

 

This would give the town council and school committee time to fully consider the impact of the recession and insure that only redundant or unrequired personnel are reduced and that the services to the taxpayers and students are not affected.

 

Such actions by the town employees would be a message heard throughout the state and nation it would also send a message to the students throughout the state that “our employees were willing to help those that had been so generous to them over the years.

 

This would need to be coupled with a redoubled effort by the town council and by the school committee to aggressively consolidate” like “activities with all other communities that are like minded and insure that there are no redundant services rendered between school and town government.

 

I do realize that this is far from a perfect solution.  However, it is only in “the theater of the absurd” that elected officials and town employees would ask those that are unemployed or have lost so much of their retirement savings to fund an increase in pay for those that are employed.

 

Dick Bee

 

                  

 

              


2008 NKTO Candidate Questionnaires Download now in PDF format
Candidate Forums Online Video
Town Council Candidates
October 8th 

School Committee Candidates
October 16th

We at the North Kingstown Taxpayers Organization, believe strongly in a local government that is transparent, accountable and fair. Over the past several years we have worked to familiarize the voters with the ideas and opinions of the candidates prior to an election.


    North Kingstown Taxpayer's Organization

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