Block Island Times

Community support budgets reviewed by Council

The Town Council’s review of proposed Fiscal Year 2022 budgets for the library, the Block Island School and other groups funded under the Community Support category stretched over two work sessions.
At the Wednesday, March 24 virtual meeting, representatives explained their requests for the new year beginning July 1, while Town Manager Maryanne Crawford presented the staff’s funding recommendations. (Not-for-profit organizations that receive funding from the town include Block Island Health Services, the Block Island Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department, the Early Learning Center, the BI Chamber of Commerce and the National Alliance on Mental Illness – Block Island. The school, Senior Advisory Committee, and the Island Free Library are town government functions.)
The discussion continued on March 29, with the Council revisiting funding amounts for the Fire Department, Health Services, and the Chamber. (See related article.)
Block Island School
Supt. Mike Convery informed the council that the Block Island School did not receive any Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief II and ESSER III funding (the American Recovery Act), leaving a gap of $50,000 to fill in the school’s budget. The school did not meet the requirements based on student poverty data.
“[Town Manager Maryanne Crawford] pointed

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