R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-5-5: Allotments to highway districts — Supervision of expenditures — Rates of compensation.

Town councils shall determine and allot the proportion of the annual appropriation for the maintenance and repair of highways and bridges, which shall be expended within the limits of each highway district in their respective towns, and so much of the appropriation as shall be expended under their care and direction, or under the care and direction of a committee or committees of their own members appointed by them for that purpose. They shall also fix the rate of compensation to be paid for personnel, teams, road making machinery, and materials to be employed or used in their respective towns.