2026 Voter Information

A Guide to Cranston Local Bond Referenda

November 3, 2026 General Election

CRANSTON BOARD OF CANVASSERS

CITY OF CRANSTON, RHODE ISLAND

QUESTIONS 6-11 LOCAL BOND QUESTIONS

LOCAL QUESTION 6

6. STORM DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS

$4,000,000 BONDS AND NOTES

(Local Acts 029/030 – Acts and Resolves of 2026)

Shall an act, passed at the 2026 session of the General Assembly, entitled “An Act authorizing the City of Cranston to finance the repair, construction, and rehabilitation of storm drains and drainage improvements, and the remediation and mitigation of drainage and flooding problems, by the issuance of not more than $4,000,000 general obligation bonds and notes therefor” be approved?

Explanation and purpose of Question 6: These bonds will be used to finance the repair, construction, and rehabilitation of storm drains and drainage improvements, and the remediation and mitigation of drainage and flooding problems in the city. Additionally, funds will be used to purchase equipment and resources to clean catch basins, as well as other water quality structures, as mandated by the RI DEM Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) General Permit. The goal of the program is to reduce the quantity of pollutants that enter storm sewer systems during storm events.

$4,000,000 will be borrowed. The repair, construction, and rehabilitation of storm drains and drainage improvements may begin in 2027 and may be completed in approximately 10 years. Although each asset has a different useful life, the average useful life of the drainage improvements is approximately 40 years.

*Cost of issuance estimated at 1.25% of principal issued.

** Assumes an interest rate of 4.00%, with bonds amortized with level payments over 20 years.

LOCAL QUESTION 7

7. PUBLIC BUILDINGS

$2,000,000 BONDS AND NOTES

(Local Acts 027/028 – Acts and Resolves of 2026)

Shall an act, passed at the 2026 session of the General Assembly, entitled “An Act authorizing the City of Cranston to finance the acquisition, demolition, construction, improvement, renovation, repair, alteration, furnishing, and equipping of public buildings in the city by the issuance of not more than $2,000,000 general obligation bonds and notes therefor” be approved?

Explanation and purpose of Question 7: These bonds will be used to finance acquisition, demolition, construction, improvement, renovation, repair, alteration, furnishing, and equipping of public buildings in the city, including, but not limited to, needed upgrades, repairs, and renovations to city facilities including heating, ventilation, and air conditioning and related equipment necessary to complete those upgrades. Improvements may include funding for roof repairs and/or replacements at public safety facilities (including Fire Stations 1, 2, and 3), and roof replacement at the Budlong Aquatic Center.

$2,000,000 will be borrowed. Construction and renovations on public buildings may begin in 2027 and may be completed in approximately 4 years. Although each asset has a different useful life, the average useful life of the public building improvements financed will be approximately 20 years. The useful life of the public buildings is at least 50 years. The useful life of furnishings and equipment is approximately 20 years.

* Cost of issuance estimated at 2.00% of principal issued.

**Assumes an interest rate of 4.00%, with bonds amortized with level payments over 20 years.

LOCAL QUESTION 8

8. PLAYGROUNDS AND ATHLETIC FIELDS

$4,000,000 BONDS AND NOTES

(Local Acts 025/026 – Acts and Resolves of 2026)

Shall an act, passed at the 2026 session of the General Assembly, entitled “An Act authorizing the City of Cranston to finance the acquisition, construction, improvement, renovation, repair, and alteration of playgrounds, athletic fields, and related equipment in the city by the issuance of not more than $4,000,000 general obligation bonds and notes therefor” be approved?

Explanation and purpose of Question 8: These bonds will be used to finance the acquisition, construction, improvement, renovation, repair, and alteration of playgrounds approaching 30 years of usage, essential athletic field preventive maintenance and related equipment that includes and is not limited to the replacement of riding lawnmowers, string trimmers, backpack blowers, and athletic field line painting machines. These projects may include, but are not limited to, upgrades and repairs to various recreational facilities throughout the city that include Cranston Stadium and Cranston West synthetic turf surface scheduled replacement, and the related equipment necessary to facilitate said upgrades and repairs.

$4,000,000 will be borrowed. Construction, renovation, and equipping of playgrounds and athletic fields may begin in 2027 and may be completed in approximately 4 years. Although each asset has a different useful life, the average useful life of playgrounds and athletic fields is approximately 20 years.

* Cost of issuance estimated at approximately 1.25% of principal issued.

** Assumes an interest rate of 4.00%, with bonds amortized with level payments over 20 years.

LOCAL QUESTION 9

9. STREETS, SIDEWALKS, AND BRIDGES

$8,000,000 BONDS AND NOTES

(Local Acts 023/024 – Acts and Resolves of 2026)

Shall an act, passed at the 2026 session of the General Assembly, entitled “An Act authorizing the City of Cranston to finance the design, construction, repair, rehabilitation, and improvement of streets, sidewalks, and bridges in the city including, but not limited to, paving, drainage, traffic control devices, road maintenance equipment, safety improvements, and landscaping and all costs incidental or related thereto by the issuance of not more than $8,000,000 general obligation bonds and notes therefor” be approved?

Explanation and purpose of Question 9: These bonds will be used to finance the design, construction, repair, rehabilitation, and improvement of streets, sidewalks, and bridges in the city. This may include, but is not limited to, paving, drainage, traffic control devices, road maintenance equipment, safety improvements, and landscaping. Projects may also include Dyer Ave./Park Ave. intersection improvements, the Hope Rd. - Wilbur Rd. - Phenix Ave. roundabout, main street beautification (Park Ave. improvements), and traffic signal upgrades. Also included are the rehabilitation/replacement of city-owned bridges such as Kimberly Lane Bridge and Phenix Avenue Bridge (near Walden Way), the Dean St. shoring project, and the annual city-owned roadway resurfacing program.

$8,000,000 will be borrowed. Construction and renovations of streets, sidewalks, and bridges may begin in 2027 and may be completed in approximately 4 years. Although each asset has a different useful life, the average useful life of streets and sidewalks is approximately 50 years. The useful life of equipment is approximately 20 years.

* Cost of issuance estimated at 0.75% of principal issued.

**Assumes an interest rate of 4.00%, with bonds amortized with level payments over 20 years.

LOCAL QUESTION 10

10. FIRE AND PUBLIC SAFETY EQUIPMENT

$8,000,000 BONDS AND NOTES

(Local Acts 021/022 – Acts and Resolves of 2026)

Shall an act, passed at the 2026 session of the General Assembly, entitled “An Act authorizing the City of Cranston to finance the acquisition, improvement, renovation, and repair of fire and public safety equipment by the issuance of not more than $8,000,000 general obligation bonds and notes therefor” be approved?

Explanation and purpose of Question 10: These bonds will be used to finance the acquisition, improvement, renovation, and repair of fire and public safety equipment by the city’s fire and police departments. This may include, but is not limited to, the repair and/or replacement of fire apparatus, technology, public safety equipment, training, and facilities. It may also include replacement of the city's oldest fire apparatus, structural repairs to three fire stations, and replacement of end-of-life breathing apparatus.

$8,000,000 will be borrowed. Acquisition, improvement, renovation and repair of fire and public safety equipment may begin in 2027 and may be completed in approximately 5 years. Although each asset has a different useful life, the average useful life of the fire and public safety equipment financed, including equipment, vehicles, upgrades, and training or storage facilities, is approximately 20 years.

* Cost of issuance estimated at 0.75% of principal issued.

**Assumes an interest rate of 4.00%, with bonds amortized with level payments over 20 years.

LOCAL QUESTION 11

11. SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL FACILITIES

$25,000,000 BONDS AND NOTES

(Local Acts 019/020 – Acts and Resolves of 2026)

Shall an act, passed at the 2026 session of the General Assembly, entitled “An Act authorizing the City of Cranston to issue not to exceed $25,000,000 general obligation bonds, notes, and other evidences of indebtedness to finance the purchase and/or acquisition of land and buildings, construction, renovation, improvement, alteration, repair, landscaping, furnishing, and equipping of schools and school facilities throughout the city” be approved?

Explanation and purpose of Question 11: These bonds will be used to finance the purchase and/or acquisition of land and buildings, construction, renovation, improvement, alteration, repair, landscaping, furnishing, and equipping of schools and school facilities throughout the city. Projects may include, but are not limited to, replacement of aging boilers, roofs, heating systems, and/or controls of heating systems at Cranston West, Bain Middle School, Hope Highlands Middle School, Park View Middle School, and Edgewood Highland Elementary School.

$25,000,000 will be borrowed. School acquisition, construction, renovation, and improvement may begin in 2027 and may be completed in approximately 3 years. Although each asset has a different useful life, the average useful life of the school building improvements financed will be approximately 20 years. The useful life of the school buildings is at least 50 years. The useful life of furnishings and equipment is approximately 20 years. For eligible projects, the city anticipates that it will be eligible to receive debt service reimbursements from the State of Rhode Island of up to approximately 53.2% of the project costs.

* Cost of issuance estimated at approximately 0.40% of principal issued.

** Assumes an interest rate of 4.00%, with bonds amortized with level payments over 20 years.

Explanation of voter referenda questions on Cranston's 2026 General Election ballot:

A referendum is the way our legislative bodies (the General Assembly or City Council) ask voters to approve or reject proposals such as constitutional amendments, home rule charter amendments, long-term borrowings (bonds), and special laws affecting the city. A referendum is always asked as a question to voters. There are five statewide questions, and six local Cranston questions, which will appear on the Cranston ballot for the Nov. 3, 2026 General Election. The questions will begin with the five state questions, followed by the six local questions, which will all appear on the backside of the ballot. Voter information regarding Cranston’s local referenda is included in this pamphlet.

Approve: Your vote to “Approve” means that you support the city issuing General Obligation Bonds to finance the projects listed in a specified local bond question. If a majority of Cranston voters voting on the question vote to approve, that question will be certified by the Cranston Board of Canvassers as having passed. Bonding authority related to that question will be granted, however, approval of a bond question does not itself result in the issuance of bonds or the expenditure of funds. Any future issuance of bonds and expenditure of bond proceeds would require action by the city, including the Mayor and City Council, as provided by law.

Reject: Your vote to “Reject” means that you are opposed to the city issuing General Obligation Bonds to finance the projects listed in a specified local bond question. If a majority of Cranston voters voting on the question vote to reject, that question will be certified by the Cranston Board of Canvassers as having been rejected, and no bonding authority related to that question will be granted.

Important Local Referenda Question and Voter Information

This legal advertisement includes important voter information and local referenda question information for the November 3, 2026 General Election in the City of Cranston.

The 2026 ballot will contain 11 referenda questions, including five state questions followed by six local bond questions. Local questions are explained in detail in this guide. State questions are explained in a separate guide mailed by the Rhode Island Secretary of State. All questions will utilize an "Approve" or "Reject" format and will appear on the backside of the official ballot.

? Approve

? Reject

Polling locations and sample ballots can be found online at vote.ri.gov. Polling locations will be open on Tuesday, November 3 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Confirm your polling locations online at vote.ri.gov or call the Cranston Board of Canvassers at 401-780-3121.

Early voting for the November 3, 2026 Rhode Island General Election begins on Wednesday, October 14 and runs weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Monday, November 2, ending at 4 p.m. on November 2. Early voting is also open on Saturday, October 31 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Photo ID is required.

There are two mail ballot drop boxes in the City of Cranston that will be open starting on Tuesday, September 29, 2026 to receive completed mail ballots: Cranston City Hall – 869 Park Ave (side entrance of the building, next to Cranston East), and the RI Board of Elections – 2000 Plainfield Pike (parking lot at Sailor Way entrance).

You must be registered to vote from your actual place of residence. Voter fraud is a felony and the penalty for voter fraud is imprisonment for a term of not more than ten (10) years, or a fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both, for each offense (R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-26-1).

Check your voter registration and election information online at vote.ri.gov. The Cranston Canvassing Authority office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Room 100, Cranston City Hall, 869 Park Ave, Cranston, RI 02910-2786. Phone: 401-780-3121. Cranston Board of Canvassers, Kirk McDonough, Chairperson; Quilcia I. Moronta, Vice-Chairperson; Anthony J. Mastantuono, Member. This official election notice is published in accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-8-10.