Warwick School District Faces $2.6 Million Deficit Amid Funding Disputes

The Warwick school district faces a $2.6 million deficit for fiscal 2027, driven by rising costs for staffing, utilities, pensions, and health care, as well as unfunded state mandates. The School Committee questioned a deficit-reduction plan, noting that it relied mainly on city funding and conservative estimates. Members also raised concerns that the plan omitted $2.1 million they believed should count as required city support.

The district's financial stability is threatened, requiring additional funding from the city to avoid ending the year in a deficit. The deficit-reduction plan, approved by the Warwick Public Schools Budget Commission in March 2026, has not been approved by the School Committee.