Town councilor Jay Lambert has vowed to abstain from any vote that would allow Tiverton to exceed the state-mandated 4.5 percent tax cap.
Voters at the May 15 Financial Town Meeting ratified a budget which represents a 7.88 percent increase over the previous fiscal year. They also approved a motion to exceed the state-mandated 4.5 percent tax cap. Town Administrator James Goncalo has drafted a letter that will be sent to the Rhode Island Division of Municipal Finance, asking for state approval to exceed the cap.
Lambert contends that a vote to exceed the cap also must by approved by a supermajority of the Town Council — six of the seven mmebers.
Town Solicitor Andrew Teitz has advised Town Council that the actions of the financial Town Meeting show the voters’ intent to exceed the cap, and that no action is required by the Town Council.
“I’m not going to vote for [...]

Original post by Derek Vital