The Newport City Council is considering $2.9 million in additional funding for the construction of Rogers High School

The Newport City Council will consider a request for additional $2.9 million in funding to complete construction of the new Rogers High School at its Nov. 13 meeting.

City Manager Colin Kennedy is recommending that the council approve one of three options to close the funding gap: using $2.9 million in infrastructure bond proceeds, a combination of $918,809 in bond proceeds and $2 million from the general fund balance, or appropriating the entire $2.9 million from the general fund. the general fund balance.

The Newport School Building Committee notified the council on Oct. 11 that it needs $2,918,809 in additional funds to contract the final phase of construction work and complete the project.

“This approval will allow for a final certificate of occupancy and completion of the project,” Rebecca Bolan and Louisa Boatwright, co-chairs of the School Building Committee, wrote in a letter to the board.

The commission must contract the final phase of work at its Nov. 18 meeting to avoid subcontractor awards expiring on Dec. 1.

To date, the city has contributed an additional $23.7 million to the high school project, including $14.4 million in bond incentives and $9.3 million in general tax dollars.

Total project costs have risen to more than $125 million, significantly higher than the $98.8 million originally approved by voters in 2020.

Kennedy noted that using the general fund balance could impact the city’s AA+ bond rating. He recommended using bond proceeds as the preferred option.

The School Building Committee reported it has secured $2.5 million in grants to offset a portion of the $5.4 million total funding shortfall identified in October.

“We will continue to explore grant opportunities and look forward to more good news in the coming months,” Bolan and Boatwright wrote.

They added that any emergency funds left over at the end of the project will be returned to the city.

The new high school is expected to open in September 2025. School officials say the additional funding is needed to obtain a final certificate of occupancy and complete the project as designed.

The board previously approved $3 million in additional funding for the project in June, contingent on the School Committee spending its reserves.

That resolution stated that the funding was intended “to address current and projected shortages as reported in correspondence from the Newport School Building Committee on May 14.”

The council will consider the latest funding request at its Nov. 13 meeting. If approved, it would bring the city’s total additional contribution to the project to nearly $27 million above the original bond amount.