Three Losers In Proposed 2013 Budget
The budget now under discussion eliminates the Main Street Coordinator position and reduces money to the EG Animal Protection League and the Teen Center.
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Town Manager Bill Sequino’s 2013 budget proposal comes in $3 million higher than the 2012 budget, thanks largely to a $2.1 million increase in debt service. But there are some cuts.
Under the plan, the Main Street Coordinator position — currently held by Bruce MacGunnigle — would disappear. It is a half-time position; MacGunnigle’s half-time job in the Town Clerk’s office would continue.
As Main Street Coordinator, MacGunnigle has organized the Main Street Strolls, which happen to resume this Thursday. He has also worked with the Downtown Planning Initiative, which is in the process of becoming the nonprofit Main Street Association.
MacGunnigle is all right about the prospect of losing his part-time job. “After 33 strolls and 7-plus years, I’m ready to step back,” he said. As for the Main Street Strolls, two will take place under his watch. Beyond that, MacGunnigle said, the EG Chamber of Commerce, together with its new partner, the Main Street Merchants, will pick them up.
The 2013 budget proposal also has a cut to “Teen Center” line item, which would drop from $9,000 to $7,500. The Teen Center is more than Friday nights at the gym at Eldredge, according Bob Houghtaling, the town’s drug counselor. He uses the money for outings as well as the occasional pizza night.
That money also paid for Houghtaling’s Magical History Tours last summer, where he shepherded small groups of teens to historical sites such as the Gilbert Stuart Birthplace and Touro Synagogue.
“Would I like more, yeah. Could I use more, yeah,” said Houghtaling. But, he said, he’ll cope if the budget cut stands. “I guess what this means, I guess it means I just have to be a little bit more creative.”
The East Greenwich Animal Protection League is one of only two outside organizations that retained funding in the current-year budget — the Town Council cut out grants and contributions to 12 additional nonprofits (including the Visiting Nurses Association of Care New England and R.I. Meals on Wheels) last year at this time.
Summer’s End was the other nonprofit to remain in the budget last year. In the 2013 budget proposal, Summer’s End (which puts on a late-summer outdoor concert among other things) would receive $5,000, the same amount it got this year.
The EGAPL would receive $15,000, a decrease of $4,000 from 2012. The EGAPL is a nonprofit, no-kill shelter. It takes in cats and dogs in need of homes. Some of those animals are from East Greenwich and some are from other areas, including out of state.
Right now, if a stray animal is picked up by the EG Animal Control Officer, it is taken to North Kingstown Animal Hospital for up to three nights. Pet owners must pick up the tab when they come to collect their pet. If, however, no one claims it, it would be turned over to the EGAPL, which boards its animals at Greenwich Bay Animal Hospital on Post Road.
EGAPL president Tammy Flanagan told the Town Council at its meeting Tuesday that the organization spends about $100,000 a year providing shelter and care for dogs and cats. The rest of its funding comes from fundraisers and private donations.
The Town Council takes up the budget again Monday evening at 7:30 at Swift Community Center. By town charter, the Council must vote on a budget by May 15.
Heather Larkin
8:56 am on Monday, May 7, 2012
Summer's End is nice and all but it is a one night event. EGAPL serves the town year round. Just sayin".
JeffW
11:43 am on Monday, May 7, 2012
Agreed.
Betsy Fenik
3:57 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
Ditto
Angel
9:17 am on Monday, May 7, 2012
I was thinking the exact same thing as I read this article Heather! Summers End is basically a concert, where is the benefit? I would rather see the money go to the Teen Center or EGAPL that helps serve others, than put money into a musical event that is self serving....
jim halsband
11:00 am on Monday, May 7, 2012
Once again, logic, common sense as well as a myopic disconnect from the realities of teen needs for real guidance and support gained from Bob Houghtaling's uplifting and most necessary programs is as misguided a move that this ever made, if anything, his budget should be doubled! It is through Bob's work that the state's first real anti-bully program has been implemented. I think a group resignation is in order for this town council, were any of them even born in EG?
Angel
5:18 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
Yes, Bob Houtalings program deserves more money...but WHY do we always have to bash others? Cant people just provide feeback without negativity? Lets be constructive, and let the town council know that we, as taxpayers, would prefer to see social events such as Summer End get the budget cut rather than helpful teen programs. What does it matter if people on the town council were born in EG? The concerns should surround making sure the money is dispursed correctly, not asking for a group resignation.
Russ Knight
10:53 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
Summers End Concert is a "free" concert to those who attend, but as you can probably imagine, it takes a lot to put it on an event of this magnitude, including a completely volunteer organization to run it and lots of financial support from patron and corporate sponsors. At the amount the town has in this years budget, basically it costs the town less than $1 per person in attendance. Additionally, the Summers Arts and Festival Organization provides annual scholarships to children interested in the arts, but have no way to pay for classes that will help them develop that skill - yes keeping them off the streets. Donations for Arts on Main and the town's Graffiti Contest, annual scholarships to the most talented going off to college to study the arts - all come from the same organization. And yes, for one night at the end of the summer, the town of East Greenwich shows the rest of the Rhode Island why it is such a great place to live, coming together to enjoy one another and celebrate the passing of the summer and the anticipation of a new school year. Small price with large ROI in my book.
Heather Larkin
6:42 am on Tuesday, May 8, 2012
I think we all agree that Summer's End is a lovely event that adds to the social fabric of our community. The point is more that when there is limited $ and cuts have to be made, the Teen Center and EGAPL have a greater impact on more fragile populations. Art class scholarships are worthy of our tax dollars but when a choice has to be made, providing guidance to teens needing help or sheltering stray animals is higher on my list.
jane
7:04 am on Tuesday, May 8, 2012
The Main Street Merchants Committee is grateful for the funds provided to the Arts on Main Event - which is re-schgeduled for this Saturday.
Bridget
9:04 am on Tuesday, May 8, 2012
I would bet that most people in town are not fully aware of the breadth of services the Summer’s End group (Summer Arts and Festival Organization) has supported since 1996: Scholarships for kids, support for the Arts programs around town, providing students with access to art and music classes and summer music camp programs, financial support for arts-related field trips, etc. All of these things to fulfill the group’s mission of promoting, developing and fostering music and arts in East Greenwich and to enhance the appreciation of and access to music and the arts in our community. Simply put – Summer’s End, as it’s commonly known, is not JUST a concert.
Of course, budgets are finite… but I hope people are not too quick to get behind the cutting of a program without knowing all of the facts. I would hate for our town to go in the direction of many other towns throughout the country, by hastily discontinuing funding for the arts.
Carl I. Hoyer
12:43 pm on Saturday, May 12, 2012
I know I commented on the Summer's End Concert earlier but it seems to have disappeared. To the best of my recollection, I said I was a donor to the program but suggested that a nominal admission fee be charged , particularly where it was said that they are "running in the red".
So there, now I've said it again .....
'nuff said ! (again).
Elizabeth McNamara
2:09 pm on Saturday, May 12, 2012
Thanks for commenting again, Carl. I'm not sure what happened to your previous comment. I'll check into it!
Betsy Fenik
4:02 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
Why not make the concert a fundraiser for existing teen and animal programs?