North Smithfield Running a Deficit

Central Falls, Providence, East Providence, Woonsocket...now North Smithfield can be added to the list of Rhode Island municipalities running a budget deficit, according to Sandy Phaneuf of the Valley Breeze...

The benefits in contracts for town employees are growing at a faster rate than the town can legally afford to cover them, warned the North Smithfield Budget Committee in a communication to the Town Council this month. The gloomy prediction foreshadowed even more bad news this week from auditors: North Smithfield ended fiscal year 2011 with a deficit.

Rhode Island is way past the point where its fiscal crisis can be believed to be confined to a few, historically unique situations.

ADDENDUM:

Via Twitter, Ted Nesi of WPRI-TV (CBS 12) reminds me that I left Pawtucket off of the above list.