Providence

Question #4 for David Cicilline on the Category 5 That’s Hit Providence

By Carroll Andrew Morse | March 7, 2011 |

Former Providence Mayor David Cicilline’s statements, made to both Scott MacKay of WRNI (1290AM) and Alisha Pina of the Projo, that his administration withdrew funds from the city’s “reserves” to address the city’s deteriorating fiscal situation is a reversal of the basic position he had previously presented to the public. Throughout the second half of…

Question #3 for David Cicilline on the Category 5 That’s Hit Providence

By Carroll Andrew Morse | March 6, 2011 |

The next question involves some nuts-and-bolts at the accounting level. Congressman David Cicilline, in his interviews with both Scott MacKay of WRNI (1290AM) and Alisha Pina of the Projo is now saying that his administration did spend a portion of the City of Providence’s reserves to help balance the FY2010 budget. (This is a change…

Question #2 for David Cicilline on the Category 5 That’s Hit Providence

By Carroll Andrew Morse | March 6, 2011 |

Reflecting on the early years of his mayoralty, former Providence Mayor David Cicilline told WRNI (1290AM) interviewer Scott MacKay that “from the first time that I took office, there was always a gap between revenues and expenditures” and that he and his administration “began to chip away at that gap”. According to the annual budget…

Question #1 for David Cicilline on the Category 5 That’s Hit Providence

By Carroll Andrew Morse | March 5, 2011 |

In recent interviews with Scott MacKay of WRNI (1290AM) and Alisha Pina of the Projo, and in material available on the City of Providence website, David Cicilline claimed that he reduced costs by eliminating 445 positions in Providence government during his tenure as mayor. However, the city’s most recent “Comprehensive Annual Financial Report” presents different…

Cicilline on Defense

By Marc Comtois | March 5, 2011 |

Rep. David Cicilline is in town and defending his record as Mayor of Providence, explaining to the ProJo that he cut hundreds of jobs, renegotiated benefits and took other steps to mitigate budget deficits, including tapping into the reserve fund. If you have groceries that cost $500 a month and this month groceries cost $600…

An Audit of Popularity

By Justin Katz | March 4, 2011 |

More news today about Providence’s finances under Mayor David Cicilline: At the time, Mayor David N. Cicilline, who was a candidate for election to Congress, vehemently denied the finding. He insisted about $30 million remained in the accounts, and charged that Lombardi was playing politics. The audit, by Braver Accountants and Advisers, of Providence, said…

The Union Rhetoric and Financial Reality

By Justin Katz | March 4, 2011 |

You know, this sort of talk can only expand the sense of unreality between unions and the general public: “Something is insane in Providence,” [American Federation of Teachers President Randi] Weingarten said, standing on the steps of City Hall. “On a week where teachers and students were taking a well-deserved break, a secret plan was…

Taveras’ Proposal – It isn’t just Teachers Taking a Hit

By Marc Comtois | March 3, 2011 |

Ian Donnis has the list of Providence Mayor Taveras’ proposed cuts to deal with the budget deficit. * Effective immediately, the Mayor is taking a 10% pay cut. * The Mayor will submit a FY12 budget that cuts the Mayor’s office payroll by 10%. * Effective immediately, 13 non-union positions, including several school administration positions,…

Nesi: Providence Deficit Similar to Central Falls

By Marc Comtois | March 2, 2011 |

Ted Nesi notes the similarity between the Central Falls and Providence deficits: [Central Falls’] budget shortfall was also pegged at about 17% when it filed for receivership during its 2009-10 fiscal year. But because of its small size, the actual amount of Central Falls’ deficit was only $3 million – a rounding error compared with…

Providence Deficits: The Legacy of Cicilline

By Marc Comtois | March 2, 2011 |

Everything was so rosy in Providence under former Mayor David Cicilline. Remember? Now we know why. Cicilline’s adminstration basically slapped an new coat of paint on a rickety jalopy and called it “new.” Earlier this month, we learned that then-Mayor Cicilline’s administration paid for the paint by drawing down on the rainy day funds, underfunding…