FISCAL 2027 BUDGET ADOPTED 

MIDDLETOWN, RI (MAY 27, 2026) – The Town of Middletown has a budget for Fiscal 2027.

Following Wednesday’s second public hearing in Town Hall, the Town Council approved a $116.3 million figure, which is projected to result in a 3.1 percent across the board tax increase for property owners, subject to final assessments from the town’s tax office.

Residential property owners can expect a projected tax rate of $9.35 per $1,000 of assessed value compared to $12.157 per $1,000 for non-owner occupied properties and $14.014 for commercial properties per $1,000.

Town figures indicated a residential property owner with a median home assessment should see their tax bill go up $181 in Fiscal 2027 compared to $255 for non-owner occupied  median assessed home and $500 for a median assessed commercial properties.

Council members said the budget was a fair compromise, one that would continue to move the community in the right direction without overburdening taxpayers.

Importantly, they noted the tax rate would not spike as a result of construction of the new Middletown Middle High School at 1225 Aquidneck Ave., which is expected to open for the 2027-2028 school year.

“Whether we agree or disagree, I think there’s been a lot of great points brought up,” council President Paul M. Rodrigues said. “There are some very hard conversations that have happened, sometimes outside of the council chambers, but they need to happen, whether we like it or we don’t. We may see different ways to get there, but at the end of the day, we’re always going to do what’s right for the town.”

Noting everyone worked hard to hold the line as much as possible, Councilor Chris Logan said from he’d like to see the town do more to generate new revenues from the community to alleviate some of the burden on taxpayers.

“I believe firmly in my heart of hearts that every single person up here is fighting for all of you, whether you believe it or not,” Logan said. “We’ve got to do a better job of finding different revenues and hold upstate more accountable and the federal government more accountable.”

A perpetual cycle, the work started on the proposed Fiscal 2027 budget almost from the moment the $109 million adjusted number was okayed by the council a year ago.

The move wraps months of discussion about the proposed numbers, what needed funding and what could be done without.

Setting the tone in early March, Town Administrator Shawn J. Brown implemented a freeze on all “non-essential” spending, signaling how each department needed to do more with less.

In its budget, the School Department heeded the call, reducing 20 teaching, administrative and staff positions, six of those at the Oliphant administration building. 

This was true even with a 4 percent increase in the amount of tax dollars going to education in Fiscal 2027. That amount was $1.3 million more than the current $32.9 million numbers for the schools. When grants and other revenues were factored in, the “all in” total set aside for the schools was $48 million, up from the current $46.3 million in Fiscal 2026.

On the town side, the Fiscal 2027 budget leaves $421,000 in new tax dollars for all town operations including police, fire, public works and other municipal responsibilities and about $200,000 more for the Middletown Public Library.

The town is in the process of going through a full property revaluation, which local leaders said won’t impact taxes in Fiscal 2027, but the Fiscal 2028 budget instead.

As for the town’s three main Enterprise Funds, each will see increases to reflect the  wider market trends seen across the country.

Effective July 1, the price for seasonal beach parking passes will be $100 for residents and $200 for nonresidents, up $10 and $20 respectively. The seasonal parking rate will stay the same for resident and nonresident seniors at $85 and $170. Daily beach parking passes go to $30 on weekdays, $40 on weekends and holidays and $25 for motorcycles and scooters. 

Those increases were due to a $1 jump in the hourly minimum wage as well as the new state sales tax implemented upstate, rising costs and related factors.

The annual fee for the town’s “Pay-As-You-Throw” curbside refuse and recycling collection program goes up $5 a year to $190. There will also be a new $25 charge for the 325 single-family properties with more than one town gray trash bin to offset additional collection expenses. The cost of the mandatory yellow “Pay-As-You-Throw” bags will remain unchanged. 

The sewer fees will see a $2.05 increase per 1,000 gallons, resulting in about a $70 increase for the average sewer ratepayer. The sewer fee for Fiscal 2027 is expected at $21.44 per 1,000 gallons as well as a Newport Customer Service charge of $47.90 per meter connection, a $2.97 increase.

To see the 248-page budget received earlier this month by the council, go to https://mdl.town/FY27-Budget-Book online.

Document Link: https://mdl.town/NYCU-Budget27

About Middletown

The Town of Middletown is a vibrant municipality located on Aquidneck Island, known for its scenic beauty, historic landmarks, diverse economy and strong sense of community. For more information about all we have to offer, visit MiddletownRI.gov online.

Media Contact

Matt Sheley

Public Affairs Officer

401-842-6543

msheley@middletownri.gov