In 2022, Charlestown voters ended the Charlestown Citizens Alliance’s 10-year rule largely because the CCA messed up Charlestown’s finances. Voters instead gave Town Council control to Charlestown Residents United.
The CCA and CRU are now up for a rematch, and economic issues are still in the forefront. The CCA now claims that their 2022 problems — the “$3 million Oopsie,” the misallocation of almost 10% of the town’s budget that went unnoticed for almost two years, and the devastating Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council report showing Charlestown’s administrative costs were the worst in Rhode Island — never happened.
On Sept. 26, Rhode Island Auditor General David Bergantino, released his assessment of municipal finance. His report on Charlestown (pages 16-17) shows two important facts: 1. The problems under the CCA were real; and 2. The CRU has brought about a major turnaround in Charlestown’s finances.
Under the CRU leadership of Deb Carney, Rippy Serra, Steve Stokes, the late Grace Klinger and her replacement, Peter Slom, Charlestown has:
Raised more revenue. Under the CCA, revenue was $28 million. Under the CRU, this increased to $30 million.
Lowered expenses. Under the CCA, expenses were $31.2 million. Under the CRU, expenses dropped to $29.8 million.
Increased town savings. The CCA criticized the CRU for failing to increase savings. In fact, the Auditor General finds the CRU raised the unassigned fund balance by 17% from the CCA’s $5.3 million to $6.2 million.
Improved pension funding to cover future pension costs from the CCA’s $8.3 million level to $8.8 million.
Reduced Charlestown’s deby by almost 25%. Under the CCA, Charlestown’s debt was $7.9 million. Under the CRU, debt dropped to $6 million.
Erased the deficit the CCA left behind. According to the Auditor General, the CCA left behind a deficit of $3,266,029. The CRU erased that deficit and ended Fiscal Year 2023 with a surplus of $157,666.
All these numbers are in the Auditor General’s report.
On top of all that, under the CRU, Charlestown’s tax rate fell from the $8.17 rate the CCA left behind to today’s $5.78. In real numbers, the CRU not only cut the tax rate, they reduced the total amount of taxes paid from $23.5 million under the CCA to $20 million under the CRU.
Under CRU leadership, Charlestown voters pay a lower tax rate, lower overall taxes, and the $3.3 million debt the CCA left is gone, replaced by a $157,666 surplus. Town debt is down, expenses are down, revenue is up and the town pension and reserve funds are up. All done without drama, without shady land deals or the lies and deception the CCA used to pretend they were the perfect money managers.
The CRU slate of Deb Carney, Rippy Serra, Steve Stokes and Peter Slom, plus newcomer and Breachway Grill owner Craig Marr, offers Charlestown continued solid management of the town’s money. The CCA slate offers a return to budget chaos. Which do YOU want?
Will Collette
Charlestown
A version of this article appeared as a Letter To the Editor in The Westerly Sun on October 10, 2024.
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