Omar Reyes warns Pawtucket council proposed 3% increase won’t cover schools’ shortfall; councilors dispute his figures

Omar Reyes, who identified himself as a member of a school committee in Kentucky, told the Pawtucket City Council that a proposed 3% increase in the school side of the budget will not cover what he characterized as a $7,000,000 deficit and said the shortfall could force layoffs and the closure of one to three schools.

“This 3% increase … does not meet our $7,000,000 deficit. We’ll be forced to do layoffs this year,” Reyes said, adding that nearly half of students attend schools he described as among the state’s lowest-performing.

Councilors pushed back during the subsequent discussion. One councilor said Reyes’s claim that the council had demanded $6,000,000 from the schools was inaccurate and described internal efforts to avoid raising taxes above the cap. “That’s inaccurate,” the councilor said in response to Reyes’s characterization of events and the handling of surplus funds.

Other councilors criticized Reyes’s tone and questioned his attendance record at recent meetings. A councilor said the levy increase components included a 2.96% levy element, insurance and salary adjustments and cited aggregate cost figures discussed in budget deliberations. Another councilor acknowledged the superintendent’s letter of thanks to the council, which was entered into the record during the meeting.

The exchange included contested factual claims about surpluses and past budget decisions. Reyes said the school department had been asked to return surplus funds and described threats and personal targeting after he refused; councilors said their recollection of prior negotiations and figures differed and urged consideration of the source and forthcoming audit results.

What happens next: Councilors said an audit scheduled for around June 1 should clarify remaining questions about accounts and any alleged shortfall. The council moved on to consider and vote on the operating budget and other agenda items after the public comment period.