Johnston Sun Rise

The Town Council last Tuesday unanimously passed the town’s budget for the coming year which begins July 1. The council did not make any changes to the budget as proposed that night by Mayor Joseph Polisena Jr.

In addition to maintaining current town service, the approximately $144 million budget adds two new fire inspectors to the Fire Department and two positions to the Department of Public Works. Polisena said all the revenue growth the council sees in the budget is from an increase in commercial and tangible taxes.

The new budget will result in a residential tax rate $12.48 per $1,000 of assessed value. The new commercial tax rate is $26.98. See comments for story.

Seniors were giddy with anticipation – their moment to walk across the stage and turn that tassel had finally arrived.

Loved ones and friends gathered at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium on June 4 to celebrate the graduates of Johnston High School’s class of 2026.



“We did it!” said graduate He Fang before the ceremony started.



Heather Forgetta was a proud mom that night, adjusting her daughter, Olivia’s cap.

“I’m so proud of her,” she said, as she waited for the main doors to open. See comments for story.

The seniors were happy to receive their yearbooks with the correct spelling of the school’s name on the binding at their senior banquet Tuesday night after a misprint brought unceremoniously to the public’s attention last week caused a stir in the school district’s highest office.

In a letter to the community from Schools Supt. Scott Sutherland last week, he acknowledged that there had been significant discussion about the printing error on the spine of this year’s Johnston Senior High School yearbook. He said while the misspelling on the spine of the book was understandably disappointing, it was important to provide the community with the full context of the situation. See comments for story.

A family’s battle to stop the town from taking its property by eminent domain continues in federal District Court, with the court recently hearing arguments for summary judgment.

The lawsuit, brought by the Santoro family – doing business as SCLS Realty LLC and Sixty Three Johnston, LLC – contends that the town violated its constitutional rights when it moved quickly in March 2025 to take ownership of roughly 31 acres at 178 and 200 George Waterman Rd. rather than let the family proceed with plans to build affordable housing there.

The town has contested the family’s claims, contending that it proceeded legally and in the best interest of the town to take the land for the creation of a public-safety complex. See comments for story.