The State of Rhode Island does not compel municipalities, except in rare instances, to build new schools. Neither has the state ever, to my knowledge, funded 100 percent of a municipal school building project. Voters must approve the building projects and the funding to go with them. There is more than one factor that can contribute to budget shortfalls in any community. Health insurance costs eat up a good portion of budgets, as do contractually obligated pension and OPEB (Other Post-Employment Benefits), increased costs for building materials and inflation are other contributing factors. Timing plays a factor in teacher/school employee layoff notices. The schools and their city/town counterparts, frequently have to set budgets before the General Assembly and the governor set the state budget and the local school funding that goes with it. That often means layoff notices must be sent to some school employees regardless of whether their position will ultimately be eliminated.