SCHOOL COMMITTEE QUESTIONNAIRE

Question 2

Jo Eva Gaines
Hugo J. DeAscentis
Robert J. Leary	First of all I do not expect the school bond to be $60,000,000. It will be millions less...When the dust clears. However, the Newport School Committee has over the last two years made significant operations savings: 2003 = $19,811,000 2004 = $20,801,000 2005 = $22,916,000 Raw A Surplus 2006 = $23,041,000 Raw A Surplus The number speak for themselves We are presently making operations savings.
Frank E. Coleman, Jr.
Thomas S Phelan
Charles P. Shoemaker, Jr.	A. In our initial proposal, we had estimated that the sale of the old unused school building and the future property tax revenues would offset the cost of 2 schools. The 3-school proposal would add another $25 million, which would not be offset by other savings. Although the schools have generated 2 surpluses over the past 2 years, this will not be enough to begin to pay off a 3-school building bond. The current administration is determined to cut the school budget, but the cuts alone cannot support the bond. The recent legislation related to a 4% cap on property tax has some safety valve clauses that may allow school bonding to be exempt from the cap.