For those who are upset about this ... pick up the phone and call the governor’s office and let them know that it is unacceptable for them to strip dollars out of the Town of Tiverton.”

Tiverton Town Council member John G. Edwards V

With Tiverton facing what would be the largest cut in state education aid of any district in Rhode Island, town council members want to meet with the school committee, state legislators and representatives of the Rhode Island Department of Education and Department of Revenue early next month to discuss the impact of the proposed $1.2 million cut.

“We need to have all these parties come together to fully explain where this $1.2 million cut came from, what it is, and what the town can and should do,” town administrator Chris Cotta said.

Councilor John G. Edwards V noted that while the governor increased education aid statewide by  $63 million, Tiverton is taking by far the biggest hit — the second highest reduction is in East Providence, which is set to receive $608,400 less than the current year. Edwards was incredulous that Tiverton’s hit is twice that amount:

“For those who are upset about this ... pick up the phone and call the governor’s office and let them know that it is unacceptable for them to strip dollars out of the Town of Tiverton so they can funnel it to the greater Providence area, which is what this state has historically done. They take and take from the East Bay and they give it all to Greater Providence.”