Budget Commissioner: Deficit Won't Be Solved This Year

Commission cautions citizens to be ready for a long haul, with a supplemental tax.

  During Thursday's Budget Commission meeting, Budget Commission member Peder Schaefer told a sparse group of spectators the panel had made progress in figuring out how to fix Woonsocket's projected $15 million cumulative deficit. Actually fixing it is going to take a little while longer than some might expect, though. "We're not going to get there this year," Schaefer told the audience, which seemed nearly equally spread among citizens and Department of Revenue representatives. "That doesn't mean you can't get there over a period of years,' though, Schaefer said, "We're making good progress in knowing what we need to do to get there." Also, Budget Commissioner and City Council President John Ward said citizens should not expect the …

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la_mouffette

8:34 am on Monday, September 24, 2012

John's bringin' down the thunder! ka-BOOM!   more ›

Letters To the Editor

Woonsocket Taxpayer Coalition: Thanks To House Delegation

WTC praises representatives Lisa Baldelli-Hunt, Jon Brien and Robert Phillips.

The members of the Woonsocket Taxpayer Coalition would like to express our thanks to Representatives Lisa Baldelli-Hunt,  Jon Brien and Robert Phillips for hearing the pleas of the Taxpayers of the City of Woonsocket, RI and defeating the Supplemental Tax Bill.   We fully support their decision and offer our ideas and suggestions to our representatives.  Know that you are not alone in this battle to save our city. We understand that taxes are a part of life and, as citizens, it is our duty to pay taxes and support our government but, it is also the responsibility of our government to spend our tax dollars wisely and in our best interest.   Furthermore, in this time of fiscal crisis, we do not expect the city employees to bear an …

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Joe

9:04 pm on Sunday, June 17, 2012

Misty Harbor, You won't get an argument from me over the need for reform and reductions in the social welfare costs that are killing us. But that does not mean we should embrace a 13% Supplemental Tax increase (that will repeat again in 1 month) in the abscence of a plan. The elected officials calling for a Supplemental Tax increase have done nothing else but ask for more taxes. What makes you …   more ›

Woonsocket Election Guide 2012

The candidates, incumbents and issues affecting Woonsocket Nov. 6.

As we look ahead to November’s elections, Woonsocket Patch is devoted to bring you the information you need about every race in town. Here's our start on the candidates and issues we'll be covering as November draws near. Bookmark this page for updates. Click on a candidate's name for biographical information and check back for updates. LOCAL: There are no local races Nov. 6 in Woonsocket. STATE: RI House, Dist. 49: Rep. Lisa Baldelli-Hunt (D-Dist. 49), incumbent Michael E. Moniz (Independent) RI House, Dist. 50: Stephen Casey, Sept. 11 Democratic primary winner, on ballot Nov. 6  Rep. Jon Brien, (D-Dist. 50), incumbent, write-in candidate Nov. 6  RI House, Dist. 51: Rep. Robert D. Philips (D-Dist. 51), incumbent Christopher M. Roberts, …

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Budget Commission Delays Vote To Recall 54 Teachers

Panel votes to wait for the School Committee's approval before calling educators back.

  Following this week's job fair, Superintendent of Woonsocket Schools Giovanna Donoyan told the Budget Commission the department recommends recalling 54 teachers laid off earlier this year during this afternoon's meeting at City Hall.  Of the remaining 44 teachers, she said, seven will be recalled after obtaining necessary certifications, and another three will be recalled after formal interviews. That leaves 34 teachers on layoff status, she said. Donoyan said the 34 teachers laid off would save the schools $1.5 million, which would be somewhat offset by about $575,000 in unemployment benefit costs. Schaefer said he felt the Commission should wait for the School Committee's official approval of the recall before they voted on the matter…

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Speakers React To Supplemental Tax Defeat Before Budget Commission

Public speaking portion of meeting draws suggestions for next steps to fix deficit.

  Reactions to the recent defeat of the supplemental tax bill during this afternoon's Budget Commission meeting at City Hall included some suggestions on the panel's next step. The Commission began with a reading of Director of Revenue Rosemary Booth Gallogly's statement in response to the bill's demise. "Representatives Baldelli-Hunt, Brien, and Phillips have done their city and their constituents no favors by failing to agree to what is necessary to begin to take steps to truly address the significant challenges facing Woonsocket," Gallogly said, in part. First up was Woonsocket Firefighter Michael Morin. "I stand here before you frustrated, as many of you," Morin said. He said he was disgusted by the House delegation's willingness to …

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Final Hope For Supplemental Tax Rests With General Assembly Tonight

State director of revenue working with Woonsocket Delegation to win their support.

  The final hope for supporters of the Woonsocket supplemental tax authorization bill rests in the hands of the General Assembly tonight, during the last hours of the 2012 session. If it's not passed before the session ends sometime late this coming morning, said Larry Berman, communications director for Speaker Gordon Fox, there'll be no supplemental tax. Earlier this evening, RIFuture.org reported that though the Woonsocket Delegation has still not agreed to back the bill, Fox said he wasn't sure whether the House would vote on the measure without their support. "Speaker Fox would prefer to have the support of the Woonsocket Delegation," Berman said this evening. Earlier, Berman had said the bill would not be heard without their support…

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la_mouffette

11:36 pm on Wednesday, June 13, 2012

I don't necessarily think a receiver, if we get one, is going to be a cause for celebration....this is going to be a rough ride, all around, no matter what happens. But I DO wish the city and state had met Baldelli-Hunt in the middle and agreed to her requests in exchange for passing the supplemental (that it would not automatically become part of the annual tax rate, that our Mayor would not be …   more ›

Budget Commission Pursuing Supplemental Tax

Time running out for second shot at getting authorizing legislation approved.

  John McLaughlin paced outside City Hall before Tuesday's Budget Commission meeting with a sign, "No TAX in FY12" — but panel members weren't ready to abandon the supplemental tax as a deficit fix. "I don't see how we're going to come up with a solution unless there's some type of supplemental tax," said Comission member Peder Schaefer. No other members offered alternative solutions. At Friday's meeting, though, Commission Chair Bill Sequino, Council President John Ward and Director of Revenue Rosemary Booth Gallogly all said the alternative was making significant cuts to the city's budget. With time running short on the General Assembly's session this year, Commission Chair Bill Sequino said the panel should vote on whether to ask the …

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Tommy Tutone

6:53 am on Thursday, June 7, 2012

I like it,but the batphone link to Lisa's house has been disconnected.I vote for Dina Dutremble as Catwoman!Jon Brien should play the Riddler since he's such an enigma.   more ›

Woonsocket Budget Commission May Have To Cut To Fix Deficit

RI Revenue Chief: Members face tough choices if supplemental tax bill doesn't materialize.

  With little time and no progress to revive the supplemental tax bill, RI Director of Revenue Mary Booth Gallogly told the Woonsocket Budget Commission they may have to cut millions from the city's budget. Gallogly, who was working this week to gain support for the supplemental tax from the Woonsocket delegation to the General Assembly, said she had nothing to report so far. "I actually don't know any more than I knew when it was referred back to committee," Gallogly said. Without the Woonsocket delegation's support, the supplemental tax bill won't make it back to a House vote, which effectively kills the bill. The supplemental tax is expected to raise $6.6 million, with $4.3 million for the school department, said City Finance Director …

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DonQ

6:19 am on Wednesday, June 6, 2012

This is exactly why Fontaine and Ward should not be seated on the budget commission. Instead of making the hard cuts necessary, it's going to be business as usual. Fontaine and Ward have convinced the commission that they have cut as much as possible and now it is time to further screw the taxpayers. So what was the purpose of bringing in the budget commission. They obviously have no more …   more ›