Coventry Town Manager: School Funding Request Too Much

The following is a news release from Coventry Town Manager Tom Hoover's office:

At the May 5, 2014 Budget hearing on the Fiscal Year 2014/2015 budget before the Coventry Town Council and Coventry School Committee many citizens asked for consideration to be given to funding an increase to the School Department budget by increasing the tax rate to the State maximum of 4.0%.

Town Manager Tom Hoover has previously recommended a 1.96 % increase to the tax rate to fund the needs of the current municipal services. Hoover has not recommended a $1,582,077 increase that has been requested by the School Department. 

A 4.0% increase would create a $2,581,963 increase to the tax levy. The 1.96% increase recommended by Hoover creates a $1,265,162 tax levy increase. Therefore, $1,316,801 would be available to fund a major portion of the school’s request at a 4.0% levy increase.

The Coventry Town Council and Coventry School Committee will have a Work Session on Monday, May 12, 2014, at 6:00 PM, at the Town Hall Annex Auditorium, 1675 Flat River Road, where citizens can provide their input to the proposed FY 2014/2015 budget which will begin July 1, 2014.