Templeton Board Approves $1.39 Million Override Question

Select Board · Meeting of August 17, 2026

TEMPLETON — The Templeton Select Board voted 4-1 to put a $1,388,534 override question to voters on September 22, with member Robert May opposed. The board separately voted 3-2, with Clerk April Cover dissenting, to adopt a fallback layoff plan taking effect October 26 that would cut roughly a dozen positions including police officers, firefighters, dispatch and highway staff if the override fails. Town Administrator James Ryan said the deficit stems from a 26.66 percent jump in the Narragansett Regional School District assessment.

Officials said the override would add $1.08 to the tax rate, $408.55 to the average single-family tax bill, bringing the average total to $4,898.79. The police chief warned "if you make those cuts and you make them immediately and my officers are gone, this town will never recover." The board agreed to use ambulance receipts funds to preserve two of four threatened firefighter-paramedic positions and approved a public outreach plan including radio, mailers and in-person meetings ahead of the vote.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 2,341 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of August 17, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.