CHARLESTOWN — Next year’s spending plan for Charlestown includes money to pay for new positions in the tax assessor’s office and at Ninigret Park and to fund a new contract between the town and the local ambulance service.
The Town Council dug into the Budget Commission’s proposed $29.2 million budget at a three-hour special meeting on April 4. Once adopted by the council, which was expected as soon as Monday night, the budget would head to a public hearing on May 6. The council would finalize the budget on May 13 for it to go on the ballot in June.
The bottom line in Charlestown shows an overall 1.62% reduction in total general fund expenditures, from $29,759,157 budgeted this fiscal year to $29,276,381 proposed next year by the commission.
Within that, Charlestown’s share of costs for the Chariho School District would rise from $13.9 million to $14 million, a 1.07% increase.
Departmental spending rises by about $733,000, or 5.53%, for an overall increase of 2.64% in operating expenses before capital transfers. However, the increases are offset by $1.2 million reductions in transfers out and capital spending, resulting in the net drop of $482,776.
For taxpayers, it means an estimated tax rate of $5.78 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, an increase of less than three-quarters of 1% from the current rate of $5.74.
Revenues are largely unchanged from the current year, with tax revenue going up by $267,688 and state aid to education increasing by $104,157.
The new budget would fund actions taken by the council within the previous year, including a salary reclassification of the town clerk position, a new full-time position in the assessor’s office and a part-time seasonal employee at Ninigret Park.
It also funds a $200,000 increase from the town for its new contractual obligation with the Charlestown Ambulance Rescue Service.
The agreement that takes effect this year will move Charlestown off its subscription program for ambulance service, funding it instead through the town’s budget process.
The three-year agreement the Town Council approved Oct. 10 commences on July 1, with Charlestown budgeting $747,474, or about $200,000 more than the $547,000 it gave in the current fiscal year.
Additional annual $200,000 increases are built into both year two and year three of the agreement, bringing the town’s total to more than $1.1 million by the end of the term.
Charlestown Ambulance Rescue officials have said the move will shore up the 50-year-old nonprofit’s finances and keep the vital service available to all in town. The ambulance budget topped $1 million this year, Chief Andrew Kettle said.
As part of its slate of recommendations for 2024-25, the Budget Commission included $62,500 as a half-year salary for a director of finance. The commission noted that significant staff changes this year delayed plans to reorganize financial operations of the town based on audit and consultant recommendations.
However Town Administrator Jeffrey Allen suggested the town hold off on a finance director hire, coming off the “tumultuous” past year in which the town changed treasurers twice. He noted the town has three personnel in the treasurer’s office now and operations have stabilized after a choppy transition.
“At the end of the day, we have a really good treasurer. We had some pitfalls in between but are in a pretty good place now,” Allen said.
Also included was $50,000 to contract with a human resources professional to build “a comprehensive job classification and employee compensation plan” with updated job descriptions.
“The budget submissions from several town departments indicated concern about the fairness and equity of the present compensation system,” the commission said.
“We agree,” Council President Deborah Carney said. “These are contractual issues that need to be addressed in the proper process.”
Carney said the town’s practice of putting money into the budget that’s then directed to salary increases for some town staff outside of union contracts has created conflict and turmoil.
“Not everyone was aware that this was happening. Some were. We’re now aware that that has happened in the past and we’re working to correct that going forward,” she said.
The council on April 4 moved the $62,400 finance director line item into the treasurer’s line item. It also acted on Carney’s proposal to remove the $50,000 marked for the HR services contract, preferring to address the matter “in-house.” The council also added $50,000 to the town engineer’s line item and $35,000 for Charlestown Beach Road engineering and permitting.
Other initial recommendations included:
- A new building department position of assistant building official/inspector to replace the inspector position that was vacated, plus the addition of a half-time position to hire an electrical inspector.
- Upgrading the part-time senior center coordinator position to full-time senior center director.
- Eliminating a vacant “floater” administration position that was used in the past to fill in vacancies in all departments.
- A contingency fund is included for collective bargaining, as union contracts are expiring and up for renegotiating in 2025.
- Two replacement police cruisers, totaling $120,000; $60,000 for tennis court refurbishment and $120,000 for public works vehicles.
