North Kingstown approves $197.2 million in bonds for security complexes and schools

The result is a victory for the city government, which tried to bundle both projects into a single $222.5 bond last November. Some residents thought the proposal was an unnecessary “mega-bond” that threatened tax increases, and opponents rejected it outright, with nearly 62% voting against it.

This time, city officials took a different approach.

First, they split the bond into two parts: one proposing to borrow $60 million to build a new police and fire headquarters at the Quonset Business Park, and a second of $137, $2 million to build a new middle school, renovate another and improve several elementary schools.

They also scrapped the original proposal to merge two middle schools, choosing instead to build a new Wickford Middle School and renovate Davisville Middle School. Upgrades such as new roofs and HVAC systems, as well as accessibility and safety improvements would also be made to those schools and Stony Lane, Fishing Cove and Quidnesset elementary schools. The city hopes to get 35 to 40 percent of the deposit refunded by the Rhode Island Department of Education.