Letter: Critical FTR Information

The following information regarding the increase in Tiverton taxpayer support should be considered when Tiverton residents are voting at the Financial Town Referendum of May 15, 2012. The RIGL 44-5-2 Maximum Tax Levy puts a cap on the maximum Support by Local Funds at 4.25% for 2011, and 4% for 2012.  The percent increases in support by local/Tiverton funds below were all simple calculations from Tiverton Budget Committee FTM or FTR numbers or the FTR petitioner’s budget numbers.

In 2011, (per pages 2 & 3 of the Tiverton annual FTM 2011-2012 fiscal year docket of May 14, 2011) the estimated support by local funds for the Tiverton municipal departments was $13,911,756, and was $13,812,083 for 1010, for a calculated increase of $13,911,756/$13,812,083 = 1.0072164 or a 2011 municipal departments increase in estimated support by local funds of 0.72164% in a year that had a State Cap of 4.25%.

In 2011, (per page 4 of the Tiverton annual FTM 2011-2012 fiscal year docket of May 14, 2011) the approved budget committee recommendation for estimated support by local funds for the was $21,834, 488 (and the estimated support by unrestricted state funds was $5,102,018), and the estimated support by local funds for the Tiverton School Department for the 2010-2011 Budget was $20,879,040, for a calculated increase of $21,834,488/$20,879,040 = 1.0457611 or a  2011 Tiverton School Department increase in estimated support by local funds of 4.57611% in a year that had a state cap of 4.25%.

The above numbers were calculated as indicated from the numbers in the Tiverton annual FTM 2011-2012 fiscal year docket of May 14, 2011. 

Per page 19 of the Tiverton Budget Committee for the financial town referendum Tuesday, May 15, 2012, the Budget Committee Recommendation for estimated support by local funds for the Tiverton municipal departments was $17,725,862 in 2011, and the recommended estimated support by local funds for the Tiverton Municipal Departments for 2012 is recommended at $17,943,888, for a calculated Budget Committee recommended support by local funds for the municipal departments of $17,943,888/$17,725,862 = 1.0122999% or a Budget Committee proposed 2012 municipal departments increase in support by local funds of $17,943,888/$17,725,862 = 1.0122999% or an increase of 1.23%. 

Per page 3 and the Education Aid from page 20, of the Tiverton Budget Committee proposals, resolutions and docket for the financial town referendum Tuesday, May 15, 2012, the Budget Committee recommendation for estimated support by local funds for the Tiverton School Department was $21,834,488 in 2011, and the estimated support by local funds for the Tiverton School Department for 2012 is recommended at $22,527,113, for a calculated Budget Committee recommended support by localfFunds for the Tiverton Schools of $22,527,113/$21,834,488 = 1.0317216 or a Budget Committee and School Committee proposed 2012 School Department increase in support by local funds of 3.17216%.

When we add the proposed 3.17216% to the additional 2.79492% that was received from the Tiverton taxpayers on 04/10/12 ($610,257 / $21,834,488 = 2.79492%) after the RI Department of Education decided that it could reinterpret/rewrite the RIGL, and the , the Tiverton taxpayers would be on the hook for paying a total of 3.17216% + 2.79492% = 5.96708% or a Total of a 6% increase in Tiverton taxpayer funds in 2012, in a year that has a state cap of 4.00%, during the worst depression since the 1930’s.  

Mr. Nelson’s Elector Petition for Alternate Budget Proposal

The estimated support by local Funds for the Tiverton municipal departments was $17,725,862 in 2011, and by local funds for the Tiverton municipal departments for 2012 is $18,362,787. Therefore Mr. Nelson’s recommended 2012 support by local funds for the Tiverton municipal departments is $18,362,787/$17,725,862 = or 1.035932% an increase of 3.5932.

Mr. Nelson’s recommended 2012 support by local funds for the Tiverton School Department is ($22,527,113 -$576,843)/$21,834,488 = 21,950,270/$21,834,488 = 1.0053027 or an increase of 0.53027% for 2012 to be added to the additional 2.79492% that was received from the Tiverton taxpayers on 04/10/12, for a total 3.32519% in a year that has a state cap of 4%, and the greatest Depression since the Depression of the 1930’s.  

2011 & 2012 Increase in Support By Local Funds

*NOTE: 0.53027% before adding the $610,257 from taxpayers on 04/10/12, and 3.32519% After adding the $610,257 from taxpayers on 04/10/12

Roger Bennis
Tiverton