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Dear CrickeeRaven,

You're wrong...again.

I am not "Now" accusing the School Committee (SC) of extortion and blackmail. I've been doing just that for several years. Here's why.

Since 2009, Warwick taxpayers have paid the SC OVER A BILLION-AND-A-HALF DOLLARS and that money was supposed to go for teachers salaries PRESENT AND FUTURE as well as maintenance of our school buildings. Can you name one person that believes that it has??? I can't, and I talk to tons of taxpayers EVERY DAY.

You say that $5 million of the recent request for $8 million is for teachers salary increases as if it wasn't covered by the original $163 Million dollar budget. If that was at all true (and it isn't) then what the HELL did they do with the rest of the BILLION-AND-A-HALF DOLLARS?? Oh, that's right. They refuse to tell us. If we had a Home Rule Charter they would be accountable but Warwick is one of the few cities or towns that doesn't. (even Richmond has one!)

The truth of the matter is the SC wants to keep this years $163 Million+ dollars, con the City Council into giving them $5 million more and then put a bond issue on the ballot to con the taxpayers out of an additional $40 Million, all with absolutely no accountability to the 80,000 taxpayers that are paying the tab. Now if that isn't extortion; if that isn't blackmail, then what is?

I'll await your answer. I'm sure it will be respectful, unbiased, and intelligent.

Happy August everyone.

Rick Corrente

The Taxpayers Mayor