# Pawtucket City Council Meeting

The Pawtucket City Council meeting on September 24, 2026, addressed several spending and procurement matters. The council approved, 7–1, a resolution authorizing up to $220 million in general-obligation bonds for the new high school and related school facilities, including design, demolition, athletic fields, landscaping, and parking. The stated minimum state reimbursement rate is 83.7%; officials said the project was proceeding on schedule and expected to seek about $125 million in bond anticipation financing through July. The committee also considered a three-year teachers’ contract estimated at approximately $72 million, but members requested more financial and staffing information and a follow-up meeting before proceeding. A new police-department parking enforcement officer position, assigned to union Local 3960 at pay grade 12T, received committee approval for recommendation to the full council.

Officials reported that bids for the Freight Street project’s second phase are expected by October 22, followed by purchasing-board approval and contract signing; completion is projected for December 2027. Discussion referenced the building’s $14.8 million purchase price and roughly $8 million in additional project spending, with a detailed cost and funding breakdown requested. The council also approved ratification of a 2026–2029 collective bargaining agreement with Local 251 and gave first-passage approval to its related pay-rate ordinance. No vendor award was made for the Freight Street phase during this meeting.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Education, Construction & Infrastructure
**Topics:** Physical Infrastructure, Grants & Funding
**Published:** September 24, 2026

### Sources
- [Pawtucket City Council Meeting](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AknAohfDif0) - Pawtucket City Council