Cities, towns cry foul over state budget cuts
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State Budget Cuts
Leaders of local cities and towns are fighting back against proposed budget cuts that will leave their communities in deep financial trouble.
Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena
PROVIDENCE—A coalition of mayors and municipal managers criticized the General Assembly’s position on revenue sharing, saying if it’s not restored, residents will face tax increases.
“It’s happening to everybody. I don’t think the General Assembly realizes. I think they have to come in and take a look at the people sitting here, look at these faces, because these are the taxpayers,“ Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena said Wednesday.
The proposed budget eliminates much of the annual funding for cities and towns.
Legislative leaders said everyone has to tighten their belts, including cities and towns.
But city leaders said they’ve already cut as much as they can from their budgets and if the legislature doesn’t help out, residents will see their taxes rise.
“There’s not one administrator, manager, mayor that’s here (Wednesday) or not here that’s part of this coalition that hasn’t done whatever they could to decrease spending,“ said North Providence Mayor Charles Lombardi.
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Reader Reactions
“the state legislature says everyone has to tighten their belts” What hypocrites….if they truely believe this than I’m sure they would be willing to pay 25% towards their health benefit package worth $17,000/per family which they pay nothing towards.
Reform the state-pension system that Gov Carcieri is proposing if you want to tighten your belts.
Wake up Rhode Island and grab your pitchfork. They know your not going to do anything about this problem. The mayor of North Providence is right ...many cities and towns have tightened up their budgets , but the state needs to do more——pension reform is the answer.
Your vote matters…..so use it and vote them out of office.
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