Council approves $101.2M budget for FY17

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The Johnston Town Council during a special meeting last Thursday unanimously approved the town’s $101,248,164 budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

With the town in the midst of a revaluation, the plan anticipates a slightly larger tax levy due to increased property values. But it seeks no tax rate increases.

“This is a no-tax-increase budget on account of the town’s spending practices. This budget approves a state-mandated statistical revaluation,” said Mayor Joseph Polisena, who provided the council with a proposed budget outline. “Fortunately or unfortunately, however you look at it, real estate values went up this year because real estate is starting to climb in the state.”

Johnston’s residential tax rate for the coming year is $27.49 per $1,000 of a home’s assessed value, a decrease from 2015’s rate of $28.99. The rate for tangible personal property remained the same, at $59.71 per $1,000. The motor vehicle tax rate also remained unchanged at $41.46 per $1,000.

Recent revaluations seemed to affect commercial and rental properties more than residential properties.

“We had rental properties that went up [in value], we had condos that went up, we had business properties that went up lesser, but the actual tax decrease is greater than the median value increase,” said Johnston Finance Director Joseph Chiodo.

The town advertised and proposed an increase in its total tax levy to $76,466,714 from $75,464,389, an increase of 1.33 percent.

The budget reflects level funding for the schools year-over-year by the town. The funding the school district receives from Johnston totals $37,529,015, with an additional $15,609,977 coming from state aid. The state aid figure represents a roughly $1.7 million increase over the current year’s amount. The total school budget is $54,050,137.

“I must commend the school committee and [Superintendent] Dr. [Bernard] Di Lullo and his administration for the work they have done, they’ve obviously stuck with their budgets working very hard,” Polisena said. “The schools are a beacon, there’s no doubt about it, we’re doing really well with our schools and the kids are doing well.”

Other budget appropriations of note include $13,755,274 for the Police Department, an increase of $1,050,388 over the current year. The Fire Department budget was set at $15,813,263, an increase of $519,690 year-over-year.

The snow removal budget remains unchanged from the current year, with $50,000 allotted for materials and $75,000 for vendors. While last winter saw less snowfall than years past, there was an overage in snow removal materials expenditures, with the town having spent $61,174. However, there was a decrease in vendor expenses, with the town only spending $52,041 as of March 18.

“We continue with our promise that we don’t spend what we don’t need,” Polisena said. “We continue to follow the progress of all departments for any indication of overspending, and we check those figures on a monthly basis to be sure that there’s no misunderstanding between my administration and the department heads.”

Polisena also added that the town continues to shrink government when possible, by leaving positions unfilled as employees leave unless that department is short staffed. He also stated that if a person with institutional knowledge retires, they’re asked to come back and work part time at a reduced rate.

“By doing that we’re saving full-time salaries, health care, things like FICA, and of course pension payments, and this system has worked out well for us,” he said.

The mayor mentioned that the budget allows for continued work on the town’s infrastructure, road improvements, and cost-effective drainage fixes. In town buildings, replacement of inefficient lighting with LEDs and in-house remodeling of the police and fire buildings have led to additional savings.

“Our economic development continues to be the talk of the state. Just look around and see what’s transformed Johnston into a community that’s admired by so many,” said Polisena, specifically pointing to the planned Citizens Bank corporate campus, New York Life, Five Guys Restaurant, and a facelift at the Stop & Shop on Atwood Avenue.

Former councilman Ernest Pitochelli was the sole resident to question the budget, citing concerns with town salaries, the timing of the release of the budget, and how decisions on department budgets were made.

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  • Educator1

    Screw the Citizens project !!!!!!!!! KARMA you SOB for selling out the residents of a beautiful farmlike community ,for what amounts to peanuts.,and when traffic becomes an issue we will be busting the doors down at townhall to demand an explanation!! Or driving by your beautiful lakehouse on a nightly basis to show you how traffic can disrupt ones life !!!!! KARMA

    Friday, July 1, 2016 Report this

  • twiggy

    The net result of all the fancy talk above is that my taxes went up again as usual. But a wealthy business such as Citizens Bank will be paying pennies on the dollar for taxes AND getting free water and sewer. Reminds me of the bank bailouts in 2008.

    Tuesday, July 19, 2016 Report this