Question - what are the consequences of declaring bankruptcy? What does the city stand to gain / lose because of this determination. I would like to have the information ahead of time.

Chafee - I blame Carcieri.
School Commitee - I blame Busby.
Busby - I blame Gerardi.
Fontaine - I blame Menard.
Parents - I blame the teachers.
Teachers - I blame the parents.

Woonsocket Children - My future is Prison, Military or Welfare.

If Woonsocket declares bankruptcy, a Federal judge will appoint a receiver. This person will not have been elected by, nor will he/she be accountable to, the citizens of Woonsocket. The receiver will have the authority to merely issue a supplemental tax levy to rectify the deficit.

The present public school system is unsustainable without extracting money from tax payers to the point that they lose their money and property. That being said, the present public school system must (1) be removed as a budget item and no longer funded by the city, or (2) drastically and dramatically changed so as to be affordable, or (3) privatized so that competing companies operate the schools. Far as I know, not a single official or politician is remotely considering any of these three choices. It continues to be "kick the can down the road" time. Bold and principled leadership is needed to bring about any of the three options just mentioned. Personally I just do not see any of it around. Anyone still think government employee unions are a good thing?

Yesterday on WNRI it was reported that Rep Lisa Baldeli-Hunt is/was doing research on the cost savings for shutting off the street lights.
Our city is on the brink of receivership due to a $10 million deficit and Rep Baldeli-Hunt is working on a street light project.
Perfect example of how out of touch our General Assy reps are with what is really going on. I guess she has her priorities...swings, picnic tables, parks, and street lights

This problem has been brewing for years. Starting with Susan Menard - how many years did she brag about 0% tax increases while other communities routinely raised taxes 1-3 % per year? When the state aid spigot was gushing, the taxpayers of Woonsocket were only too happy to pay one of the lowest payments in the state. Now that you have spent like drunken sailors on pay, benefits, a 85 million dollar school, etc..., you expect the rest of the state to care? I think not. Pony up and quit whining.

"The previous administration cut $195 million to all the cities and towns in our state," Chafee said.

Uncut it! The State supposedly had a surplus of $95 million in 2011. Leo, put your damn hand out and get us our funding back. 

85% of Woonsocket 11th graders can't do basic math! (2011 NECAP)

Dude you are penny wise and dollar foolish...glad you're not my accountant.

How can a system run a $7.3 million dollar deficit, while they were reporting a surplus up until December? This is a serious case of mismanagement, and yet the person responsible for this is out on stress leave. This isn't the fault of the teachers or taxpayers this lays squarely with the people at the McFee building.

The people who did this in the public sector (Enron) ended up in jail for fraud. We need to fix the problem at the top. The city has raised taxes the past few years and increased fees, yet the teachers of the city have not gotten a pay raise in 5 years. The firefighters received a 2.5% pay raise this year, as did the police..

Dude, Did you bother to read the story before you made your comment? The entire deficit lies with the School Dept. Where are your cuts for them? I say again...get a clue

Laid off workers manning parking lots. Hahahaha...too funny

How much would Woonsocket save if the entire school administration was cut today? Let the city take over the business for the rest of the school year.

Obviously the previous leader of WED and finance director were either incompetent or criminal or both.
Here's a theory: Gerardi knew it was bad and made sure things "looked" good so he could get out of here enabling him to score a job in Maynard, MA.

The current superintendent and the school committee can't get away with telling us they didn't know what was going on or they are part time or they had bad numbers. Who was approving all the overages? They were!
People, the teachers are not considered upper class. They are middle class. They as a group had to stick together to fight for the level of pay they have now. They didn't cause this.
Urg! I am so angry!

Another theory: The people who should care don't. Long term chronic apathy.
1. For decades the people who can afford it send their kids to private schools in Woonsocket. This includes people who run for office here, city council and school committee members and others. Result is they haven't really cared about the poor school system in decades allowing things to decay and to be run on auto pilot. There's no vested interest. I would love to see a new law here that says all local officials have to send their kids to public schools. I know, not realistic, but I'm telling you, they would keep a closer eye on things, fix things or move far away.
2. The superintendents don't live here and really don't care about our kids or our poor city. But we treat them like royalty with $150,000 a year to do nothing.
3. The people in the city who do most of the voting and who are the most involved and engaged in the week to week political process no longer have kids in the school system. They have no vested interest, except for now when its threatening the city. Last night I was surprised to see how few showed up for the city counsel meeting and fewer looked to be 40s or younger.
Solution: Well, short term, I don't know. Long term, part of it is we need younger property owners, who have money and families who want to call Woonsocket their home.

Too many disability recipients...not enough taxpayers. Simple math

Attention: All the responsible and independent people line up for a job picking up trash and monitoring parking lots

Fear a state takeover friend's. If you are worried about doubling and tripling of the water and sewer bills, a state receiver could lay down a 25% supplemental tax bill. That would be a "wonderful" way to start the Summer. You won't even be able to "Get out of Dodge" with this news, house sales are going to plummet. How, just how, can "no one" know the checkbook is off by 10 mil ????

Ask the schhol dept dude...it's their checkbook. You seem to be blaming everyone but them. Your ideas are brilliant

Dear Rainbow Sherbert Trust,

Could you spare about $10,000,000.00 for Woonsocket?

Where Woonsocket made the error was that infamous revenue bond of 8% last year to keep them open. That bond had a 3% insurance premium to help sell it. How was the city going to pay that back the following year?? That just bought them 12 months and now the noose is around their throats. Let the bankruptcy begin and get it over with. The excuses are worthless.

For eight decades big spending liberals have been elected because they promised to give people all kinds of stuff in return for voter support. Now we are seeing the results of the giant give away. Even the value of our currency itself is in danger. The wagon is now full. There is nobody left to pull the wagon. Welcome to Greece!

So, the city can't manage money. As a result, the state (which also can't manage money) is going to take over. Now, when the state is finally screwed beyond its ability to unscrew itself, do the feds take over? They've not got the best track record either. This is not a "Woonsocket" problem. This is a government problem. We just happened to be next in line for a beating...

If anyone wants to contact Dr. Geradi to tell him thank you from Woonsocket residents, I believe you can contact him at rgeradi@maynard.k12.ma.us......I'm sure he would graciously answer emails....NOT

I have read all your comments and i agree with many of you,I hear a lot of ?s, What was the School Comm.doing??? Why not ask Mr.Dubois who was chairman for a few year,ask him,he sits on the city council like he is innocent of all the comments.
I never thought this man did a good job, and everyone thought we needed al whole new committe!! What happened?? We elected dubois on the city council , and the same old faces on the school committe!!! BLAME YOURSELF WOONSOCKET VOTERS!!!!! I know they are not all our problems, but they should not be sitting in a councll or school committe seat.

Hmmmmm,

I was called “Ignorant”, “Mr. Know it all”, “Tweedle dumb”, “A Brain Surgeon”, “Mr. Doesn’t know how the education system works” etc. but somehow, in all this name calling, I was one of the only posters that actually called this total WED debacle in advance (my projection was 5+ million on 2011 and 2012) and submitted resolutions on how to come out of this hole. From one of my earlier posts, let’s see if any of this hits home?

WED needs to reduce headcount by 5 to 10 % across the board.

They need to consolidate duplicate services that exist within the school system, both from an administration and education support services standpoint. (Hmm, that sounds familiar right Leo?)

They need to consolidate schools by eliminating at least one of the elementary schools in the city.

The student population has declined by 500 students within the last 5 years, and will most likely decline even further within the next five years as more people leave the city due to increasing rents, decreasing property values and increased tax rates.

Gee, I guess I wasn’t that far off base huh “Steve” haters?
On to bankruptcy issue, I called this one too!
A blind man could have seen this coming!

And oh by the way, after watching last night’s City Council meeting, it’s nice to see the “It’s not my fault, blame the other guy game” being played out to the max!

Oh well, I can’t wait to see the $800.00 plus dollar supplemental tax bill within the next month or so.

Thanks to all of our elected officials for a job well done!

Unfortunately, I believe most of the votes come from senior citizens. I think they go by "who is serving the best meal" is the winner. Maybe concerned citizens should start going to the highrisers come election time and give a "history lesson" on all prior councilmen and school committee members, who is good, and who hasn't done anything in past years. AND BY THE WAY, WHEN IS SOMEONE GOING TO HAVE THE BIG MEATBALLS TO FIRE STACY BUSBY? A clause in her contract? Oh please....another excuse...FIRE HER.. and let her fight her way back!!!! I am so sick of weak people doing absolutely nothing.

Didn't someone ask for a forensic audit just a few short years ago? Ten million reasons not to put theses clowns back in office.....but you know you will Woonsocket....you like the abuse far too much! Keep up the good work and bring back the incumbents next time...they're nice people.

How about a tax increase for EVERYONE! Not just the homeowners in the city! Those that don't pay taxes are the primary cause of this problem, so why are those that have invested in this city and purchased property in Woonsocket ALWAYS the ones responsible for giving up more and more for the benefit of those that give NOTHING!

Ladies and Gentlemen, I have read all the postings and some are good, some not so good. The prospect of bankrupcy is not good. Its like the gestapo moves in and takes over! In Central Falls the leadership has been totally ignored by that shit head judge who thinks he is god. We don't want this here in Woonsocket.
I hate to say this but, let's take the hit with a supplemental tax bill and some serious cuts and MAYBE we can work this out.
The blame game is going on and some people are to blame.
#1 Girardi, I believe he directed Busby to shut up. #2 Marc Dubois was the captain of the ship and should go down with the ship. Mr Dubois should resign from the city council.#3 State legistrators, not Governors are responsible. They control the budget
for the state. They refuse to fund education properly.
The state of RI has to get off their duffs and start supporting their cities and towns.
During the next election please really think about who you vote for.
Attention High Rise Senior citizens: Just because a candidate buys you a plate of spaghetti at your senior housing complex it does not mean this candidate should get your vote. Please remember the bad decisions that some of these clowns are making when they are in office. We the people have the power to change things!
Let's all pray for divine guidance!
Try to have a good day folks!

“We don't have a 10 million-dollar debt because we haven't taxed enough; we have a 10 million-dollar debt because we spend too much.”
The problem that all municipalities have is over regulation, too many laws on the books, union hacks and their fat contracts, and mismanagement of the pension systems. These have worked in concert to help bring down municipal governments to the point of failure. Woonsocket should have gone under last year but decided to float another bond to forstall the obvious. Too bad the "leaders" had to shell out 8% with a 3% premium because the city was in junk bond status already.

Others will follow with Providence running out of cash by June 1st. When they go, the rest of the state will be seriously affected. Pawtucket will no doubt follow along with West Warwick and so forth. Governor goofy will have to appoint a receiver to handle Woonsocket's affairs shortly (which is why he was there for the announcement). That receiver will put Woonsocket into bankruptcy and the city leaders can all go home.

RI will be the state on national news with the most bankruptcys in the nation. Another wonderful recognition for a corrupt state.

BTW, the third most important industry in RI is the moving companies. The number one industry is government.

The is an election year------you know what to do!

Our "leaders":
"The union run failed public school system must be maintained always and forever! It's for the children! It's for the children! Sell your houses and your cars and your furniture and send the money to us so we can maintain our beloved status quo school system! It's for the children! It's for the children! Send your pay check directly to city hall! It's for the children! Now and forever! The school system must be kept just as it is! Pitch in! It's for the children!"

The fact that the education department is $10 million in the hole is criminally negligent, and someone needs to be held accountable!

There needs to be serious cuts in all departments. Though the deficit is with the school department, the entire city needs to look at their spending.

Compared to the rest of the state, Woonsocket has the lowest increase in it's local funding to the education department. Yet the school the department have increased our NECAP scores almost every year.

Some thoughts on cuts:

1. Cut all busing for students except those students that are physically handicapped.

2. No out of district placements for troubled students

3. Reduce the education staff by 5%

4. Outsource all janitorial staff.

5. Reduce duplicate staff between Mcfee and the city.

This may not be enough but we have to do something.

outsourcing you will have to pay them so it's still spending,by reducing the education staff you still have to pay there unemployment which the city nor WED has the money for

why don't we just start enforcing illegal immigration laws?! wonder how much money we'd save if we had illegals out of the school system, off our entitlement programs? and why did we run Walmart and Lowe's out of town? how much were they contributing in taxes?!

Just a few thoughts.....Governor Chafee with Leo Fontaine's approval is scheduled to name former N E Patriot , Randy Moss as Woonsocket's receiver. Our Mayor agreed he was the best available out there. First Lady, Michelle Obama will make a surprise visit to Woonsocket, next week. She is scheduled to give Mayor Fontaine and all elected officials an award for ending childhood obesity. Little does she realize, parents can no longer afford to feed their children with the crazy high and upcoming supplemental taxes for the city on the brink. Rachel Arruda and Stacy Busby are expected to be named Co- Grand Marshals for this years' Autumnfest. I have a suggestion to end this financial mess. Let's hold an April citywide election.Within 1 week of the the election, our creative book keepers will turn this deficit into a magical surplus...they always do. Party on Woonsocket....YOU JUST CAN'T MAKE THIS CRAP UP! Oh by the way....it's not 7 or 10 million...it's a 22 MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT......the city borrowed 12 million last year!

sorry for those who wish Ms.Busby would be fired but unfortunately the school department can't they left out that provision when now city council men Marc dubois was chair of the school committee

I'm sure you're thrilled that she can't be fired, Robert.

From the school committee minutes...November 16, 2011
"Mr. Dubois read a statement he had prepared. He thanked the department heads and Stacey Busby and Mr. Fontaine. He said that Stacey was a Godsend to this city. He hopes she is with us for many more years to come."

What more can we say! She's the best, right?

More minutes from the school committee...June 22, 2011
SCHOOL COMMITTEE GOOD & WELFARE:
E. Nadeau: She wished Dr. Gerardi well. When she ends her term, she will have served for ten years altogether on the school committee. “I have worked with many superintendents and Dr. Gerardi gets an A+. He has never lied to me or misled me. We were very lucky to have him during the horrible years we have been through. I hope we can get a replacement that is at least as close to him as possible because those kinds of people are very hard to find. It has been a pleasure.”

BRILLIANT!

And even more compliments...May 11, 2011
“I’m not surprised in Mrs. Busby. I have always had faith in her. Congratulations on the good work!” said Mrs. Nadeau.

That Mrs. Nadeau sure is a good judge of character.

Oh yeah, one more...how about the hard work done on that budget?
January 19, 2011
Mrs. Nadeau said that she and Mr. Dubois are on the Finance Subcommittee and meet every week. “We go through everything. Some of the decisions from these meetings aren’t always popular ones—such as the elimination of all-day kindergarten. It’s also very time-consuming and very stressful. I would gladly give this job away. We are dealing with reality here and reality is not pleasant!” she said. Mr. Dubois thanked Mrs. Busby for all her hard work..."

Well done. How did they get re-elected????? Will they ever again get a vote? What were they reviewing, the snow falling from the sky? It couldn't have been the payroll budget, that's for damned sure!!!

Really???,
Nadeau was also on the contract sub-committee. The same committee that saw that the "just cause" clause was removed from Busby's recent and current contract. I love to hear her bash the new members of the SC for their lack of "institutional knowledge". She's the one who should be institutionalized.

More bad news for Woonsocket http://valleybreeze.com/2012/03/08/nsbw/fitch-downgrades-city-s-bond-rating

DEMAND PROOF OF EVERYTHING, GET INVOLVED CITIZENS AND DON'T TRUST ANYONE!!!

By the way, when you make a budget you factor in everything you know such as step raises. How can step raises be something that became an overage, in other words, how did they not know this was going to happen?
I think I heard this brought up by DuTremble in this weeks city council meeting when she presented her findings. I think she blamed about $600,000 of the problem on step raises.
If this whole process becomes a reason to break the union, I'll be even more angry. If the union workers become the sole focus of this problem we will miss the underlying problem which is poor management.
Please attend all School and City meetings people!

I would like to know why Stacy Busby can't be fired? I don't know of anyone who has a contract that says "you can't be fired". Doesn't Stacy have a job description, and if you don't abide by it, or is lacking knowledge even though you look like a genius on paper, you can't be fired??? Really? I THINK ALL THE WIMPY, COWARD, and INSENSITIVE, old school committee members should resign. YES, YOU CAN FIRE HER...WHAT ARE YOU PEOPLE SO AFRAID OF. Just because "Ackerman" says you can't? Of course he is going to say that, duh...wake up Giovanni, don't you have morals to do the right thing? I'm amazed how ignorant and worthless our school leaders really are. All their degrees are meaningless, if they don't have any common sense. And they are worried about the children's education. LET'S FACE IT, they are doomed...there is absolutely NO LEADERSHIP in the school department whatsoever. Do yourselves a favor take a cruise to the Greek Islands, where you just might be welcomed there!!

If the City decides to send out a supplemental tax bill, then it better be for ALL TAXPAYERS, and not just HOMEOWNERS!! It has to be fair across the board, including car owners. You can't discriminate against one type of taxpayer...that's targeting a certain group of people. This is critical and our legislators must see to it that this is done. I don't want to hear that it can't be done... It's time for our reps to WAKE UP and do what they were voted in to do. Let's see how aggressive and assertive they really are...

With Fitch now joining Moody's in tanking the city bond rating, it is time for Governor Gump to appoint the receiver and put the city into bankruptcy. 10 Million dollar deficit and an 11 million dollar 8% revenue bond which has high debt service? What were these morons in city hall thinking? The plug should have been pulled last year. Now the hole got that much deeper and with no economy, good luck. This makes the Marquette scandle look pale now.

erin
layoffs are a fact of life it happens to all walks of life so there is no need to go tell anyone thier gonna be outta work,
1 question comes to mind if there is no money for pay chexks will they continue to work for free,no pay check, no benefits??????????

OK, so many people on here have been griping about the supplemental tax bill. Where were you people when Suzie-Q refused to raise your taxes to make them equitable with other towns' tax increases? If she had raised taxes in increments pursuant with the increased cost of doing business in this city, you wouldn't be in this mess that you are in.
Beware when a politician says he won't raise taxes. There will certainly be a price to pay.

Shame on you Mayor Fontaine and Council President Ward for your lack of oversight and lack of action for the residents of Woonsocket will suffer from your inaction. You both should resign from office and let the State take over and correct the financial issues that you both failed to do.

The Mayor and City Council are not responsible for the financial management of the WED. The latest deficit is a direct result of the WED being unable to manage their budget. That said, the "city" (as opposed to the WED) has it's own financial issues for which the Mayor and Council are certainly culpable, but the tipping point towards bankruptcy stems from WED being incompetent.

Sorry Chorus I Do Not Agree at all. The WED receives all funding from the City. The WED Does Not send tax bills out the City Does. The Mayor and City Council (by the charter) approve the WED budget and all funding that is sent to the WED. The reason is to put into place by charter is to have fiscal oversight by the Mayor and City Council to prevent fiscal issues like what is happening now. The Mayor and City Council are on the hook on this severe problem.

That's ok - you don't have to agree. I think you're wrong, you think I'm wrong. It's ok. The WED receives funding from the city, from the state and from the federal govt. The 'city' may 'approve' the budget but the WED knows what their budget is going into the fiscal year and it's the responsibility of the WED to manage to their budget. If it were really the city's responsibility then why would the WED have their own finance dept? I do agree that the mayor and the council are on the hook for the severe problem because the city must (by law) cover for the shoddy financial management of the WED, but make no mistake about it - it's not the mayor the city council's fault. I personally don't have much use for the mayor or some of the council, and they are culpable for some of other financial woes facing the city, but WED caused this particular problem. I'll have to bone up on the recent changes to the charter because I don't believe that you are correct.

I just did a cursory review of the charter...the city council adopts the budget but it's up to the WED to manage their appropriation and complete their own pre-audit against appropriations. The charter explicitly states that no dept (including eduction) can spend more than they are appropriated. Depending on how you read the charter, I can see how the council may have some oversight responsibility but not the mayor. If I'm wrong...then what's the point of having a School Committee with authority to sign contracts (ie. make financial committments)? If you're right, then why wounld't the city council have to sign contracts?

Robert - you're dillusional...I never once said that Dubious was not culpable...you are nothing but a WED cheerleader who hates the mayor, the council, Mr Bruce...you don't even vote and given your opinions and your inability to formulate congantive thoughts, it's probably a good thing.

"Only the Mayor can sign contracts "...Dubious and Nadeau acknowledged this week that they signed the latest contract with Bisby...WED absolutely signs binding contracts.

"Enforce the charter"? I like the idea, but what does that mean? Other than completely taking over the budget, forecasting, accounts payable and auditing, I can't think of anything that the council can do.

Thanks, DMA...I was confused by your comment.

I have read the charter...what steps exactly do you want the council to do? Maybe they are reading this blog and will act...I'm honestly not trying to be difficult and would love for the council to hold WED accountable.

Challenge Council President "know it all" John Ward to DO HIS JOB!!!!! Before the City Gets Flushed Down The Toilet By The State!!!!!

I hear you, DMA...It's just not clear what recourse is available.

Second, I can't help but wonder why so much energy is waisted on the negotating of contracts for every single city & town when a state the size of Rhode Island isn't done on a state level. After all, every city and town is looking for state money to help run things now.
Third, I don't believe even the governor has the right to promise a job that can't be elliminated. If anyone believes they have such a contract, then they should be informed that it is null and void. BECAUSE THE PEOPLE SAY SO.!!!!!
Fourth, I keep hearing the term "Paid Adminastrative Leave" for people on city or state payrolls that have been sent home for one reason or another. This is that sense of entitlement that keeps poping its ugly head again. When REAL WORKING people get sent home by the boss, there isn't any pay.

To everyone who is out for Ms Busby's head on a platter, and is upset about her collecting pay while out on stress leave. Perhaps you should consider speaking to our School Committee Members regarding the opportunity Ms. Busby had for another job? Yes - she had another job all sewn up, when a few members of our esteemed School Committee called the new school department she was going to and ruined it for her. So........ if you have a problem with continuing her pay while she is on stress leave, you can thank the School Committee for that one! Like her or hate her, Ms Busby was leaving on her own accord, but for some reason it seemed like the better option to keep her around as a punching bag. I personally don't have an opinion of her one way or another, but I assure you, she is far from our only issue.
How about reducing the number of low income households in Woonsocket? We are WAY over our required percentage, and most of these low income households have multiple children. The few homeowners that are still surviving in this city are paying for too many children in schools. We need to move these low income residents to a community with less of a percentage than Woonsocket has.

This is a time for leadership not finger pointing, from what i'm seeing the city and school department are working together to solve the problem which none of us have a solution to or have mentioned at any city council meeting so let them deal with it and we live our lives to the fullest

The time for leadership is over. Our local government will all be out of a job in the next month. The city has run out of money, and has no way of raising enough money to pay the creditors and bill collectors in time to avoid bankruptcy. The city has no other option than to go into bankruptcy and deal with the consequences. It's over, we will be dealing with an overseer (lack of any better term), the same as Central Falls, from this point forward and its not going to be pretty. Get ready for some hefty tax bills within the next few months......

yes yes go into bankruptcy is the only thing to do.
you can't bleed the taxpayer anymore.
packing me bags.

Woonsocket should eliminate the Homestead Exemption. Let the citizens pay there fair share. On MyWoonsocket.com, there was an article that states that Woonsocket has the second lowest tax rate in the State. Only Central Falls is lower and they do not pay for their School department.

Not every property qualifies for the homestead exemption. Hence Woonsocket does not have the second lowest tax rate in the state.

http://www.muni-info.ri.gov/finances/taxrates.php

Your information is definitely wrong. We do not have the second lowest tax rate in the state. Unfortunately we do have a lot of people in this city who do not own homes and so do not pay taxes. The time for free give-a-ways is over. This needs to stop. We the tax payers cannot afford any more!!!!! And No, the Unions are not to blame, the elected officials and those at the head of the Education Department are. If you don't have the money, STOP SPENDING. Why was the city not notified a long time ago that the schools were running out of money? Why did they ever let it get this bad? Appears to me that someone at the top was not doing their job. And now we all have to suffer for it.

The public unions are also guilty for much of this with their coercive bargaining practices and creating laws to force binding arbitration and perpetual contracts which tie the hands of local government. Now with the bond rating agencies taking hard looks at what is going on in this state, further downgrades of municipal and state bonds will continue. Where the public unions have miscalculated is what the taxpayers are able to pay. When the additional stress of supplemental tax increases are applied to the taxpayer, the bond rating agencies count that against a favorable rating. Requests for additional borrowing through bonds also contributes to that stress with higher taxes.
It comes down to the unions vs. the taxpayers - the taxpayers will prevail in the end.

This city needs to go through a structured reorganization and get their books balanced. Some services will need to be cut and the duplicity in government will need to be consolidated. Perhaps consolidating the finance departments of the school department into the city will help keep the schools on target with their budget, which seems to be where these problems keep coming from. The receiver in Central Falls is already doing this.
Another area to consider is that taxpayers have to realize that it is too expensive to maintain exclusive control over services and consolidation with other municipalities is necessary to make them more affordable. Retirees may need to accept cuts in their benefits to fill in the hole. It is far better to accept a haircut to being decapitated. Perhaps the overall answer is to have the healthcare and pension benefits administered by the state as the local municipalities lack the financial discipline to properly run them. The problems happening in Woonsocket are shared by many other municipalities across this state and reforms need to be implemented now. The time for talking and negotiating is over.

So wait a minute this is Dr.Donoyan's fault now, i would've said yes but she isn't the problem it's the people that the taxpayers voted in to office that have caused this. for example The school committee a bunch of idiots who couldn't find there way out of a napsack,the MAYOR for not lobbying early and hard enough for more money for the city, The city council well they speak for themselves just ask Mr.Dubois

Robert, the 'taxpayers' don't elect anyone. You need not be a taxpayer to vote.

no you just have to register not just be a taxpayer

robert lamarre jr (Sunday March 11, 11:13 AM): "So wait a minute this is Dr.Donoyan's fault now, i would've said yes but she isn't the problem it's the people that the taxpayers voted in to office that have caused this."

Bottom line, it's Stacy Busby's fault. She is not qualified to do the job. All she did was lie to everyone who asked her for figures. Doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure that out. BUT, WHAT HAS THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE DONE for the past 3 months since this all came out??? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. NO ONE HAS ANY FORTITUDE TO MAKE THE NECESSARY MOVES. This is the problem in Woonsocket...everyone complains, calls the talk shows, voice their opinions, and it falls on deaf ears, just like our state reps...what have they done to change the laws? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!! I hear Jon Brien on WNRI every Friday morning...what has he done?? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Where is Lisa Baldelli is all of this?? ABSOLUTELY NO WHERE !! So, taxpayers have to stick together because the school committee, the superintendent and their lawyer Ackerman, are AFRAID TO FIRE BUSBY. And we pay these people? It's disgusting because no one is doing anything. So, when we get an additional tax bill, let's mail it to Stacy Busby, or Dr. Geradi in Maynard, Mass. alias Doctor Goober!!

so my child might be thrown out of school as of april due to no funds, but yet if you ride by the village on cumberland street and its being remodeled? keep on taking from the tax payer's but keep giving the bums that refuse to work, refuse to go to school, refuse to do anything a free ride. free medical, free food, free housing........i have to pay for trash removal and if i dont recycle i get a fine. go threw the projects and see the overflowing dumpsters with NO recycling bins.......... maybe i should go to NRI and say i hear voices so i can add to the percentage of people that are on SSI that DONT NEED to be ! just yesterday i was at a gas station, guy pulls up with his brand new mercedes and uses a ebt card for his milk...... what the hell is going on!!!?????

Maybe all the people on welfare can donate their EBT cards since they use all of the city's services and pay nothing back. But they don't give back, they just take and take and take. I have never seen or heard of welfare mothers caring about the city. They only care about the entitlements they receive. Since the taxpayers pay for all their services, taxpayers deserve free food cards, free milk, free cellphones, free medical, free taxi rides, free special busing. and so on....ISN'T IT ABOUT TIME SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT ALL THESE FREEBIES? WHERE ARE OUR STATE REPS on WELFARE REFORM? Our reps don't care about the little taxpayers....only the power they think they have... Are they waiting for all the mothers to have 12 kids each? and then finally do something? Pretty soon, Woonsocket is going to end up being one big "CHUCK E CHEESE".

I agree, how about being behind a school bus for over 5 minutes while the driver has to knock on the door to get the kid, how pathetic, or when the mom is out on the sidewalk in her printed pj's smoking with the kids waiting for the bus. No values in life..just progams..