Voters in Warwick will head to the polls on Tuesday to determine whether the city should borrow an additional $50 million to cover the escalating costs of building two new high schools.
Voters approved a $350 million bond in 2022 to replace Toll Gate and Pilgrim High Schools. But Warwick Mayor Frank Picozzi says cost overruns are forcing the city to ask for more money. He currently expects the projects to need $13-23 million more than originally budgeted.
“The cost of construction since we did the $350 million bond has skyrocketed,” Picozzi told Ocean State Media’s Luis Hernandez. “This is happening all over Rhode Island.”
Even if the $50 million dollar bond is approved, Picozzi says not all of the money will necessarily be spent on the new high schools. If there’s funding left over, he said some of it could be used to renovate the district’s existing sports facilities.
Some residents have said the cost of the schools will force future residents to pay higher taxes, and district enrollment is shrinking.
Picozzi said he understands why some residents are concerned about the rising costs of the school construction project, but the city needs to finish what it started.
“I mean, we can't have three-quarter completed high schools,” Picozzi said. “The two high schools we have are very old, especially Pilgrim. The heat, the HVAC system – but also they don't have the infrastructure for modern teaching.”
Picozzi said some classrooms have just one electrical outlet and are currently unable to support strong internet access.
If the bond question is rejected, Picozzi says the Warwick School Committee will have some tough decisions to make in order to ensure the completion of the new high schools.
“They would have to scale [the project] back,” Picozzi said. “It would probably be athletic fields that would be diminished. They wouldn't be able to build as many, if any at all.”
Picozzi says the state is expected to reimburse the city for 40-45% of the total construction cost.
Voting information can be found on the Warwick Board of Canvassers website.
Early voting is taking place at Warwick City Hall through Monday. Election Day is on Tuesday.
