City Council votes to approve budget

PROVIDENCE—The Providence City Council has moved closer to approving the city’s budget for this year.

Council members took the first of two required votes on Thursday night to pass a budget for the fiscal year that started July 1.

The council has proposed a $618 million budget, about $2 million more than Mayor David Cicilline.

The Providence Journal reported Friday that many of Cicilline’s proposals remain, including freezing salaries for all union and non-union workers. The council also approved property tax hikes for single-family residences and commercial properties.

The extra $2 million in the City Council’s proposal comes from an account created after the Dunkin’ Donuts Center was sold to the state Convention Center Authority in 2005.

The second vote is planned for September.