WEST WARWICK, R.I. -- Voters on Thursday approved a budget for the next fiscal year that local officials hope will buy them more time to sort out the town's longstanding financial woes and stave off state intervention.
The $83-million spending plan for fiscal 2014, which includes an overall increase in the tax levy of 3.9 percent, passed by a vote of 771 to 526 during an all-day referendum at the high school.
Town Council President David Gosselin said that passage of the budget -- and the increase in tax revenue that comes with it -- is only one piece of the plan to solve the town's problems. He thanked the voters for their support, but said the council now needs to meet with the local unions and retirees to work out concessions and find additional savings to channel into the town's ailing pension fund, which is driving the crisis.
"We need to get together and continue working," he said.