Development News for Scituate, Rhode Island

Situit Town Approves 2026-2027 Budget, Authorizes Borrowing for Infrastructure

The town financial meeting approved the proposed town budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The budget includes a proposed effective tax rate of 3%. Several resolutions were considered and voted upon. Resolution 1, authorizing borrowing in anticipation of taxes up to $3 million for current expenses and maturing obligations, was adopted. Resolution 2, directing collected back taxes and other received money to the general fund for current expenditures, was adopted. Resolution 3, setting the tax rate, was adopted after a motion to reduce the interest rate on past due taxes from 12% to 6% failed. Resolution 4, concerning transfers among municipal account line items and the use of fund balance, was adopted after discussion regarding the increase in the fund balance transfer limit from $200,000 to $300,000. Resolution 5, authorizing borrowing up to $400,000 for road, bridge, and sidewalk improvements through the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank, was also adopted after it was added to the agenda. A motion to defer all resolutions to the November 2026 election was ruled improper. A motion to vote on the budget as a whole, rather than line by line, was passed.