R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-5-6: Expenditures by contract — Unexpended funds.

Whenever any town council shall be of the opinion that it is preferable to do so, they may provide for the expenditure by contract of a portion or all of the money allotted to be expended in any one or more highway districts; and if the work so done by contract shall extend into two (2) or more highway districts, they may determine what proportion of the cost thereof shall be paid from the money allotted to each of the highway districts. All money so allotted and not expended by contract shall, when expended, be expended by the surveyor of highways of the district to which it was allotted.