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May 4, 2011
Comparative Budgets
I don't know Providence finances well enough to quibble with Mayor Angel Tavares's budget proposal, but in emphasis and presentation it stands in stark contrast to Governor Lincoln Chafee. Tavares led with controversial and concrete initiatives for spending reduction, while Chafee led with a massive tax increase. Maybe they'll get to the same place — if the unions and the General Assembly refuse to go along with Tavares's plan, for one possibility — but I doubt it.
The mayor's budget contrasts with others in this respect:
His budget includes raising the tax levy by 5.25 percent—one percent more than what is currently allowed by state law.
That's being touted as a major "sharing of the pain," but from the perspective of Tiverton, it's less than the average annual tax increase over the past decade. It puts things in perspective for me that a city on the brink of catastrophe considers an extreme measure to be less than our business as usual.
I guess those who've run the government, in Tiverton, haven't been as keen on "sharing the pain" as inflicting it.
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As a Providence taxpayer and homeowner(actually)I understand why Taveras has to do what he is doing.
Posted by: joe bernstein at May 4, 2011 12:35 PMCicilline lied to everyone all the time.
At least Taveras is not going to take away the auto exemption.
I have no objection to paying my fair share for city services,but I get exactly nothing for the extorniate car tax.
Hopefully the Mayor will be able to get his cuts and financial contributions from the schools like Brown and PC.
Chafee and taveras don't belong in the same sentence.
I may not be on the same page with taveras on some issues,but he made it honestly-he came from a very modest backgound and he seems to be level headed and realistic.
At this point he has exceeded my expectations.
There is no winner. Why should I pay, as a Prov homeowner, for a lazy bunch of firefighters who abuse the disability system?
Don't give this post-9/11 bullcrap wherein everyone is fawning and falling all over soldiers, cops and firemen. Enough. These folks chose their profession. Window washers risk their lives every day too! So do fishermen.
Hold these people accountable and subject them to the same standards as everyone else, just because they chose this or that profession is no reason WHATSOVER to give them a pass.
Posted by: Chuck at May 4, 2011 12:40 PMStep 1: Move out of Providence.
Posted by: Dan at May 4, 2011 1:46 PMStep 2: If still in Rhode Island, move out of Rhode Island.
Step 3: Enjoy lower taxes, more job opportunities, better schools, less corruption, less social and political aggravation, and better overall quality of life.
"Don't give this post-9/11 bullcrap wherein everyone is fawning and falling all over soldiers, cops and firemen. Enough. These folks chose their profession. Window washers risk their lives every day too! So do fishermen. "
Not going to look it up but pretty sure truck drivers, fishermen, convenience store clerks and coal miners all have waaaay more hazardous jobs then the corrupt crybaby cops and firemen of RI.
Yes, leaving the state does seem to be the only way to escape the culture of welfare leeches, cronies and government worker elites that control this state.
Posted by: Tommy Cranston at May 4, 2011 6:57 PM