Cranston Budget Battle: Mayor Hopkins Calls for Council to Delay Ratification of School Contract

Cranston Budget Battle: Mayor Hopkins Calls for Council to Delay Ratification of School Contract

The City of Cranston's budget battle continues.

Recently, Mayor Kenneth Hopkins announced the city will cut 21 positions. Now, Hopkins expressed serious concern for the status of two school employee contracts scheduled for review by the City Council Finance Committee on Monday. July 11.

Two ordinances are scheduled for hearing the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Cranston Teachers’ Alliance Local 1704, ATF and the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Cranston Teachers’ Alliance, Local 1704, AFT Paraprofessionals Unit.

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“I am calling on the city council to send the contacts back to the School Committee with a strong message calling for further discussions and reductions,” Hopkins said. “The contracts are just out of line with today’s economic climate and we cannot just keep piling raises on top of raises."

“As part of my obligation to protect the taxpayers and preserve our financial health, I must speak out when the school department and committee control more than half of the overall city budget,” he added.

Hopkins says that the city is facing a $12 million deficit.

“I know oftentimes contracts come over from the school department and are given a light touch by the city council,” Hopkins said. “This is the year where we need to pause and say we need to do better.”

Hopkins said one of several major concerns is that the teachers are locking into a three-year contract at annual increases for senior teachers (most teachers on top salary step) of 3%, 1%, and 1.5%, or a total of 5.5%. The cumulative three-year impact based on the school figures would be over $16 million.

“What is even more concerning is a $2,000 ratification bonus for all teachers and for senior teacher’s longevity increases of $750 each. I question whether the school department was paying attention when all of Rhode Island was outraged at the State’s $3,000 vaccination bonuses. Why are we further rewarding employees to ratify a contract that is already one of the top in the state?” Hopkins added.