After opting not to make a decision during its prior session, the Warren Town Council, as expected, voted to waive any permitting fees associated with Bristol Warren School District construction there. The council took the action at its meeting Wednesday night, Nov. 12.

Previously, at its October forum, the body decided to table the matter, citing a lack of specific information regarding the amount of the combined fees, including those projects being done in Bristol, for which Warren would be responsible under the state legislation enabling the district.

Members of the Warren council, as well, wanted to know if their counterparts in Bristol would waive its fees.

Warren got its answer late last month when the Bristol Town Council did, indeed, agree to forego collection.

That evening, Superintendent of Schools Ana Riley and a representative of the district's project manager, PMA Consultants, provided a more in-depth breakdown of the finances.

Bristol councilors were told the actual fees total in Bristol alone would have been $1.28 million. Coupled with Warren's would mean the towns would charge the district some $1.43 million.

Those monies, however, would need to be included in bonds the district is taking out to pay for the roughly $166 million being spent on building the entirely new Mt. Hope High School, a significantly renovating Kickemuit Middle School and upgrading its three elementary schools, including Hugh Cole in Warren.

The fees charged are based on the location of the building and the cost of construction. The largest project, roughly $133 million, is taking place in Bristol with the new MHHS. Where appropriate, the towns would split the costs, 61.5% Bristol and 38.5% Warren.

At last week's Warren council forum, Riley pointed out the overage accrued to repay the loan due to the duration of the bond would be significantly more than the $159,101 it collected.

Referring to a document she provided to members, Riley said, "You can see, with the interest, we'd almost be doubling what you'd be paying. So it makes sense, I think, to waive the fees."

Warren Town Council President Joseph DePasquale asked Riley if, as was requested, she looked into the prospect of the state waiving its fees for the project. The superintendent said she had, saying they were minimal, just $3,000 total.

"The research shows us that the state, never...has traditionally never waved the fees for anyone. And I did look up what it would be," Riley said last week, adding "most of the fees come from the towns."

In the case of the state, the fees schedule is somewhat circular, the superintendent point out, noting the district in essence is likely to get the monies back because of the amount of reimbursement the district is set to receive from the Rhode Island Department of Education.

Reimbursement is calculated using state’s school housing formula plus percentages more by meeting certain incentives like energy efficiency and accessibility.

"They're repaying hopefully 80% of it," Riley said of what the district hopes will be the final tally received from the state of the total monies spent on the five projects.