The #MiddletownRI Town Council meets for about seven hours Saturday to review the proposed $93.3 million budget for Fiscal 2026. Everyone is reminded there are public hearings planned for May 21 and 28 at 6 pm in Town Hall to go over the numbers.
COUNCIL REVIEWS BUDGET, SAYS THERE’S WORK TO BE DONE
MIDDLETOWN, RI (APRIL 26, 2025) – The Town of Middletown is looking at a close to an $93.3 million budget for Fiscal 2026.
The Town Council took its first public look at the proposed numbers during an all-day budget summit from Town Hall, which included presentations and questions to every department head — including the schools.
Because it’s too early in the budget preparation process, a proposed tax rate was not set Saturday. However, town officials made it clear there was no appetite this year to exceed the state mandated 4 percent cap on tax increases.
Public hearings for residents and businesspeople to offer input and suggestions on the budget are planned for May 21 and 28 at 6 pm in Town Hall. Feedback and ideas can be submitted anytime at https://mdl.town/Helps online under the “Budget Ideas” button of the town’s Middletown Helps app powered by SeeClickFix.
For more information about the budget — including the entire breakdown of the preliminary General Fund, Parks & Recreation, Refuse & Recycling and Sewer budgets — visit https://mdl.town/FY26-Budget online.
“We’ll listen to the public at the public hearings on May 21 and the 28th,” council President Paul Rodrigues said. “If we feel comfortable on the 28th, we’ll make a decision. If we don’t, we’ll keep going until we figure it out and make the right decisions.
Opening the discussion, Town Administrator Shawn J. Brown thanked the council, School Committee and department heads for their work on the numbers to date.
He applauded the schools for coming in with a 4 percent budget request, which was kept whole in his proposed figures transmitted earlier this month to the council.
Superintendent Billy Niemeyer said the schools were able to close a projected $660,000 loss in state aid by making strategic staffing decisions through retirements and a hard look at every teaching position across the district.
Moving forward, while there were always needs and unexpected items — like a school bus contract that came in over budget last week — Niemeyer said the district would be nimble and do everything possible to support students and classroom educators.
Repeating a familiar message, Brown stressed good schools were the lynchpin of any successful community. And following the council’s lead, Brown said it was important to do whatever reasonably possible to back education today — and into the future — in Middletown.
Brown noted there was no projected increase in the price of annual beach parking passes, always one of the items that draws the most interest from residents every budget cycle.
While the new sewer rate wasn’t projected to be available for another week or two, Brown said the annual fee for the town’s “Pay-As-You-Throw” program was expected to go up by $5. The increase was due to rising costs for the program, which has about 4,700 subscribers.
Importantly, Brown said most of the budget increases were due to items the had committed to in prior actions.
For example, about $4.5 million in debt related expenses from the new middle-high school, purchase of 110 Enterprise Center and public works vehicles were coming due. There was also close to $1.7 million set aside previously for Fire Department vehicles, radios, dispatch equipment that was previously approved and needed to be paid for.
The current Fiscal 2025 budget is about $92.3 million, or about 1 percent less than the proposed number.
After department heads sat before the council and presented their budget numbers, local leaders asked questions, some more than others.
Rodrigues made a point to thank every department head for their work and efforts to make Middletown the best place it could be to live, work and play, something he said was from the heart from the entire council and not empty platitudes.
One topic that was repeated regularly was the idea of seeking out new ways to combine services and promote efficiencies wherever possible.
This was mentioned several times with the town and school technology and maintenance departments.
Another consistent theme was whether Middletown could — and should — do more for those with mental health concerns. Brown was asked to lead an effort with the schools to see where the town might be able to provide better services and avoid duplication, something he would report back on in coming weeks.
“We’ve got a lot of decisions to make, things to prioritize,” Rodrigues said to the council. “If you feel strongly about something you’d like to add or you’d like to see something taken out, bring that forward.”
Document Link: https://mdl.town/NYCU-Saturday26
About Middletown
The Town of Middletown is a vibrant municipality located on Aquidneck Island, known for its scenic beauty, historic landmarks, diverse economy and strong sense of community. For more information about all we have to offer, visit MiddletownRI.gov online.
Media Contact
Matt Sheley
Public Affairs Officer
401-842-6543
msheley@middletownri.gov