Friday, May 17, 2013
Local reps' bill to add $2.5 million to tax base scheduled for May 22 hearing.
The House Municipal Government Committee sent local representatives' Supplemental Tax Bill to the full house yesterday, recommending passage, putting Woonsocket at least seven days behind its billing deadline. Budget Commission member and Council President John Ward said ideally, the measure would've needed to pass by May 15 to give the city plenty of time to send out bills. Should the bill, sponsored by Rep. Lisa Baldelli-Hunt, (D-Dist. 49) and co-sponsored by Reps. Stephen Casey (D-Dist. 50) and Bob Phillips (D-Dist. 51), pass Wednesday, additional time will be needed to reconcile it with the Senate version, S-0820, introduced by Senators Marc Cote (D-Dist 24) and Roger Picard's (D-Dist. 20). Ward said the crucial thing the Senate …
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Council President John Ward says time is running out to pass tax and send out bills.
With local senators' supplemental tax bill passed May 9, the next step in the fate of the $2.5 million the Budget Commission intends to add to the tax base rests in the House tonight, a day past the deadline to send bills out in time. The House Municipal Government Committee will hear the bill tonight at 5 p.m., but Budget Commissioner and Council President John Ward said the goal was to get the bill approved, then send out tax bills ahead of June 30. "Which means that the goal was to have it by yesterday. So We're already running late," Ward said. The process, albeit with a smaller supplemental tax, is following a course similar to last year. This time, however, the companion bill, House 6103, is sponsored directly by Rep. Lisa …
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Critics say proposal based on unrealistic figures likely to be challenged in court.
Critics of the Woonsocket Budget Commission's intent to exercise its authority to compel benefits changes on city, school and police employees called the resulting numbers in the proposed $125 million budget unrealistic at last Thursday's Budget Commission meeting. The proposal, which is still subject to change, carries a $3.6 million deficit, which will be ammortized during the next five years in the Budget Commission's 5-year plan. The benefits changes include moving all city employees under one unified health insurance plan and previously announced changes to retireee benefits. The move accounts for millions in savings in the 5-year-plan. After continued lack of progress on negotiation, The Budget Commission voted on April 19 to …
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Wednesday, May 8, 2013
All six members present voted to approve the bill, which is on the full Senate calendar for Thursday.
All five RI Senate Finance Committee members present voted to approve Senators Marc Cote D-Dist 24 and Roger Picard's (D-Dist. 20) supplemental tax bill, S820, Tuesday afternoon. The bill, which would allow the City of Woonsocket to raise taxes beyond the four percent cap, adding $2.5 million to the base as part of the Woonsocket Budget Commission's 5-year-plan, is now on the Senate calendar for Thursday, May 9. "The supplemental tax will be raised by increasing the levy on motor vehicles and trailers by up to twelve and seven tenths percent (12.7%) and by increasing the levy on residential real estate, including residential properties with eleven units or more by up to four and six tenths percent (4.6%) for the city’s fiscal year 2012…
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Surpluses will pare down shortfall to $1 million, Thursday's hearing will address Budget Commission plan to impose contract savings.
When citizens show up for the May 9 Budget Hearing at City Hall at 6:30 p.m., there'll be a $3.6 million deficit and a plan to change expired union contracts to fit the Budget Commission's 5-year plan waiting for them. City Finance Director Thomas Bruce said Monday that thanks to the Budget Commission's decision to add $4.5 million to the Woonsocket School Department's budget over the summer, the city's $900,000 surplus was used up, leaving a $3.6 million deficit. An additional wrinkle is a pending $500,000 payment from Synagro, which runs the city's sludge-burning incinerator on Cumberland Street, which recently notified the city it had filed for bankruptcy. At Monday's City Council meeting, Mayor Leo Fontaine said he was in talks …
Saturday, April 20, 2013
New tax rates based on Tax Assessor Chris Celeste's analysis of fiscal year 2014.
Editor's note: The budget hearing reported here has since been re-scheduled for May 9, 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. The Woonsocket Budget Commission nixed a proposed tax interest amnesty and set a May 8 hearing on the city's $79,136,063 and school $65,771,967 budgets yesterday. Commission members' discussion of the tax interest amnesty was brief. City Council President John Ward, who voted against the Council's resolution for the amnesty, noted his vote during the discussion. He reiterated his opinion that it wouldn't generate extra revenue for the city, and said it would cost the city. "We'd simply give up interest by approving this," Ward said. "It sets an example that it's OK to not pay your taxes, " said Commissioner Peder Schaefer. …
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Friday, April 19, 2013
Officials say concessions under negotiation will occur July 1.
This afternoon the Woonsocket Budget Commission approved a "Plan B" enacting savings they're attempting to negotiate with unions by the end of June. "Our position is our authority under the law allows us to do these things," said Mayor Leo Fontaine, a member of the Commission. He said while the Budget Commission intends to continue negotiating to effect the changes, they still need a backup plan in case the negotiations aren't successful. "It essentially spells out what takes place July 1st," said Commission member City Council President John Ward, if negotiations with city unions don't resolve the changes. The changes, listed under item #6 on the Commission's agenda for today's 11 a.m. meeting, include moving all city employees under …
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Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Measure intended to encourage speedy resolution of overdue bills, aid taxpayers in catching up.
If you're overdue on taxes owed to the City of Woonsocket, you may not have to worry about the 15 percent interest penalty if you square up before the end of June. The City Council approved a resolution last night asking the city's General Assembly delegation to introduce legislation allowing the city to forgive the the interest on the last three years of overdue real estate bills, and last two years for vehicle and personal property tax. City Finance Director Thomas Bruce said by his conservative estimate, the measure could encourage enough delinquent taxpayers to settle their bills to generate about $400,000 between May and July, when the city will experience a "severe cash flow". Bruce said the city is about $9 million short for …
Monday, April 8, 2013
Measure passed unanimously during April 1 City Council meeting.
The Woonsocket City Council voted unanimously to ask State House reps for a bill disbanding the Woonsocket Budget Commission during their April 1 meeting, an action Town Council President John Ward said was regretfully symbolic. The resolution, which asks the city's General Assembly delegates: Representatives Stephen M. Casey (D – Dist. 50), Lisa Baldelli Hunt (D – Dist. 49) and Robert D. Phillips (D – Dist. 51), Senators Marc A. Cote (D - District 24, Woonsocket, North Smithfield) and Senator Roger A. Picard(D - District 20, Woonsocket, Cumberland), to introduce legislation to disband the Woonsocket Budget Commission. The resolution also asks for companion legislation to require the state to adequately and equitably fund distressed …
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Saturday, March 30, 2013
Document fails first stab at first passage with four members present.
Editor's note: This story was written in part using audio posted on Mywoonsocket.com's "In their own words" page, where a recording of the entire meeting is available. The School Department's updated $65,957,994 draft budget failed its first passage vote March 27 after some members expressed continuing misgivings about the Budget Commission's influence over the medical insurance ($7,101,838) and dental insurance ($508,145) line items. The figures, which represent about $1 million in savings, are based on the Budget Commission's anticipated deal with unions. The state-appointed body has instructed the Woonsocket School Department to use the figures in their budget planning. Committee Member John Donlon asked Interim School Finance …
David T
9:45 pm on Friday, May 17, 2013
By the way, what ever happened to Steve Casey and and other Reps and their promise to stay connected with us via social media like face book? So much for that. One of them really needs to change that bond holder law. more ›