The Newport City Council met and approved the first reading of the budget yesterday. Included in that budget is a $418,000 budget increase for the School Department. The city was planning a 2.9% increase in taxes for the next fiscal year, however, the city’s Finance Department will need to review those numbers and see what adjustments are needed in the tax rate since the schools were given more than originally planned. The second and final reading of the budget is scheduled for the June 25th meeting.