How Newport is run
Who runs Newport, what it costs, and where your money goes
The city manager, council pay, the budget, your property tax bill and who provides each service, from Newport's own public documents. Every number links to its source and says which year it describes. Checked Oct 10, 2026.
Who runs Newport
Newport has a council-manager government. The seven-member City Council sets policy, adopts the budget and hires the city manager, who runs day-to-day operations. City Manager Colin Kennedy was placed on paid leave in August 2026, and Deputy City Manager Mike Caruolo is acting city manager.
What they are paid
Newport city staff
797 full-time-equivalent positions, including Teachers 229, Police 108, Fire 99, Water 51, Public services 52. FY2025. Includes 389 school employees. City of Newport · Dec 29, 2025
The budget lists positions by department and an unclassified pay schedule. We found no list of pay by employee name. We name pay only for elected officials and the city manager.
Is Newport in the red?
Cities must pass a balanced budget, so "profit" and "deficit" mean something different here. The useful questions: does the city's everyday money (the general fund) cover its everyday costs, how much does it keep in savings compared with its own target, and how big are its pension and debt bills.
Savings against the city's own target
Unassigned general fund balance: $36.8M (2025-06-30). The city's own target: Keep unassigned general fund balance at least two months of revenue and not less than 10% of general fund spending plus transfers out. Surplus above about 30% of the next year's budget goes to committed fund balance. The city meets this target. City of Newport · Dec 29, 2025
Why we skip the "budgeted deficit": many cities plan to dip into savings, then spend less than planned. The audited result tells you what really happened.
Where the money comes from and goes
The general fund only: the city's everyday money for FY2026-27 (proposed).
Comes from
- Local taxes$105M · 78%
- Charges, licenses and fees$15.4M · 12%
- State and federal aid$5.3M · 4%
- Use of money and property$4M · 3%
- Committed fund balance used$3.9M · 3%
- Other$404,195 · 0%
Goes to (FY2026-27 (proposed))
- Police, fire and other public safety$48.7M · 37%
- All other city operations$33.1M · 25%
- Transfer to public schools$31.1M · 23%
- Debt service$11.1M · 8%
- Transfers to capital projects$6.2M · 5%
- Other (library support, reserves)$3.1M · 2%
Who provides your services
Not everything in Newport is run by the city. Who provides a service decides whose budget pays for it and whose election decides it.
- PoliceThe cityNewport Police DepartmentCity of Newport · Mar 18, 2026
- FireThe cityNewport Fire DepartmentCity of Newport · Mar 18, 2026
- Ambulance (EMS)The cityNewport Fire DepartmentTwo Advanced Life Support rescue wagons are staffed at all times.City of Newport · Mar 18, 2026
- WaterThe cityCity Department of Utilities, Water DivisionRates are set by the RI Public Utilities Commission.City of Newport · Mar 18, 2026
- Wastewater treatmentContractorVeolia Water Services Newport LLC (city contract)City staff run the sewer and storm drain pipes.City of Newport · Mar 18, 2026
- Trash and recyclingThe cityCity Clean City programCity of Newport · Mar 18, 2026
- Streets and sidewalksThe cityCity of NewportCity of Newport · Dec 29, 2025
- Beaches, harbor and recreationThe cityCity of NewportCity of Newport · Dec 29, 2025
Compared with similar cities
The cities in this state closest in population that we cover. Read it for scale, not as a ranking: cities provide different services.
| Per city | NewportRI | WoonsocketRI | East ProvidenceRI | WarwickRI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 24,251 | 44,580 | 48,249 | 84,187 |
| Top administrator's base pay | $225,000 | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Council member pay | Not confirmed | $12,000 | $3,500 | $10,000 |
| General fund per resident | $5,505 | $4,128 | $4,251 | $4,669 |
| Debt per resident | $8,713 | $4,353 | $6,734 | $2,161 |
| Unfunded pension per resident | $3,762 | $3,211 | $4,621 | $4,732 |
| City staff per 1,000 residents | 32.9 | — | — | 9.7 |
Figures as shown in each city's section, divided by its population. Years differ by state, and pension figures are measured differently in each state (each city page says how).
What Newport publishes
What a resident can find online today. A "no" is something you can ask the council to publish.
- Partly: Adopted budget posted online City of Newport · Oct 10, 2026
- No: City manager's contract findable onlineCouncil minutes record approval of Colin Kennedy's employment agreement on May 8, 2024. We found no posted copy of the agreement. Newport City Council · May 8, 2024
- Partly: Council pay stated in a public documentThe budget shows $16,000 a year for council salaries in total, but not each member's pay. City of Newport · Mar 18, 2026
- Partly: Employee pay published City of Newport · Mar 18, 2026
Questions to ask your council
- The FY2026-27 proposed budget uses $3,870,052 of committed fund balance. How will that amount be replaced in later years?
- Unassigned reserves were $36,798,267 on June 30, 2025. Is the 30% target the right level for a city of Newport's size?
- The city manager's pay is $225,000 a year, and his contract runs to July 2027. What will the city pay while he is on leave?
The fiscal year runs July 1 to June 30. The city manager presents the proposed budget at least 45 days before June 30. The council holds two public hearings and must adopt the budget by June 30. The council adopted the FY2027 budget 6-1 on May 27, 2026. See who is running for council
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