Title 45
Towns and Cities

Chapter 9.1.
Warwick Public Schools Budget Commission.

§ 45-9.1-4. Authority — Powers — Duties.

(a) Subject to the provisions of § 45-9.1-6, during the term of the Warwick public schools budget commission, no appropriations, allocations, or expenditures for school purposes shall occur unless approved by the commission, or in the case of an emergency, by the city finance director only to the extent to cure such emergency. For purposes of this chapter, an emergency is defined as a pressing need for public expenditure, for other than a regular or recurring requirement, in order to protect the public health, safety, or welfare or otherwise avoid unnecessary cost and expense to the city or the school district.

(b) The Warwick public schools budget commission shall have the power to:

(1) Amend, formulate, and execute the annual school budget;

(2) Implement and maintain uniform budget guidelines and procedures for the school system as a whole;

(3) Amortize operational deficits in an amount as the city finance director approves and for a term not longer than five (5) years;

(4) Develop and maintain a uniform system for all financial planning for the Warwick school district;

(5) Employ, retain, and supervise such managerial, professional, and clerical staff as are necessary to carry out its responsibilities; provided, however, that such employment, retention, and supervisory decisions are subject to the approval of the city finance director;

(6) Adopt rules and regulations governing the operation and administration of the school district that permit the budget commission to effectively carry out its duties; and

(7) Compel operational, financial performance, or forensic audits, or any other similar assessments.

(c) Within one hundred twenty (120) days of being appointed, the Warwick public schools budget commission shall develop a three-year (3) operating and capital financial plan to achieve fiscal stability in the school district. The plan shall include a preliminary analysis of the school district’s financial situation and the Warwick public schools budget commission’s initial recommendations to immediately begin to address the operating and structural deficits.