Greater City Providence

Providence FY 2013 Budget Address

Taveras

Press release from the Mayor’s Office:

Mayor Taveras Presents FY13 Budget to City Council

A Balanced Approach Protecting Taxpayers and Positioning Providence for Future Growth Proposed budget increases tax revenue without raising tax rates, begins to replenish reserves, counts on pension reform and increased contributions from tax-exempts


PROVIDENCE, RI – Delivering an address that outlined his proposed budget for next year to the City Council, Providence Mayor Angel Taveras today presented his progressive vision for moving Providence beyond its fiscal crisis to focus on jobs, economic growth, public education and public safety. The Mayor also called on the City Council to enact legislation reforming Providence’s unsustainable pension system and reiterated his call for all of Providence’s seven large tax-exempt institutions to contribute more to the city.

The Mayor’s proposed $638.4 million budget for the fiscal year that begins on July 1 holds the line on city spending, collects increased tax revenue without raising tax rates on homeowners, car owners and businesses, and begins to replenish Providence’s rainy day fund. The FY13 budget also counts on reform of city’s pension system and increased contributions from large tax-exempts.

“This budget shows our city successfully pulling back from the brink and positioning for a new era of growth and prosperity,” Mayor Taveras said during his 23-minute address. “But let me be clear: this budget counts on our ability to finish the difficult work of structural reform. It once again relies on increased support from all of Providence’s large tax-exempt institutions. And it rests on the conviction that Providence must finally fix its broken pension system in the days and weeks ahead.”

The FY13 budget is only possible because of the sacrifices that so many have made to save Rhode Island’s capital city and the significant accomplishments the Taveras administration has already achieved to reduce Providence’s $110 million structural budget deficit by nearly $90 million.

In the past year, Mayor Taveras cut his own pay 10 percent, cut the Mayor’s office budget by nearly 10 percent and refused his elected official pension.

The Taveras administration negotiated new labor agreements with Providence’s municipal workers, police, firefighters and teachers that save the city millions, cut spending in nearly every department, took the difficult action of closing schools, and reduced the city’s workforce by about 200 employees. Last year the city was also forced to impose a significant tax increase to reduce the deficit.

Holding the line on spending and replenishing reserves


The proposed FY13 $638.4 million budget includes a $328.3 million school budget and a $310.1 million municipal budget that holds the line on city spending and provides level funding for vital city services, including community centers, libraries and public safety.

City spending is lower in next year’s budget than in the current year, but the budget line item for city expenses increases $4.8 million (1.58%) because of $7.7 million committed in FY13 to begin replenishing the city’s reserve accounts.

Growing the tax base without again raising taxes


Providence’s commercial property tax rate is one of the highest in the nation. The city’s homeowners, car owners and business owners are carrying a heavy burden. Mayor Taveras’ FY13 budget collects increased tax revenue without raising tax rates.

Earlier this year, the City Council passed an ordinance requiring homeowners to register their cars at their home address in order to receive the city’s 50 percent owner-occupied homestead exemption. As a result of this ordinance, fewer homes are receiving the owner-occupied homestead exemption and the city has seen an increase in the number of vehicles registered in Providence.

All told, because of this expansion of Providence’s tax base, the FY13 budget projects an additional $4.8 million in new tax revenue (1.42%) over 2012.

“I know that taxpayers are carrying an almost unbearable burden and I do not want to add to it, especially when so many are struggling to find a job,” said Mayor Taveras.

Commitment to public education and public safety


The FY13 $328.3 million school budget includes an of $19.7 million over FY12 due to increased federal funding and continued implementation of the state’s school funding formula, including acceleration of that aid as proposed by Governor Lincoln Chafee in his budget.

The FY13 budget reduces expenses in the Police Department and other public safety divisions – a direct result of new labor contracts and the expected landmark reform of the city’s pension system.

Call for pension reform and increased contributions from large tax-exempts


Mayor Taveras’ proposed budget counts on the city’s ability to finish the difficult work of structural reform by enacting pension reform and receiving additional support from Providence’s large tax-exempt institutions in upcoming year.

The budget assumes the full savings from the Providence Pension Protection Plan recommended last week by the City Council Subcommittee on Pension Sustainability, including almost $19 million from the suspension of unaffordable guaranteed annual raises (COLAs) that retirees currently receive.

At the same time, Providence’s large tax-exempt institutions cannot be successful in a failing city and must be part of the solution to Providence’s fiscal emergency. The FY13 budget includes approximately $7 million in additional contributions that Mayor Taveras has been seeking from the city’s seven large tax-exempts. To date, Johnson & Wales University is the only one of these institutions to share in the sacrifice by agreeing earlier this year to at least triple its contributions to the city over the next 10 years.

Mayor Taveras said he believes his administration will reach agreements in the coming months with most of the remaining large tax-exempts. But if not, Providence will look to the General Assembly to pass legislation that enables cities and towns to collect a fee from tax-exempts for the critical services they receive, and to follow existing laws in Massachusetts and Connecticut that require tax-exempts to pay taxes on property that is not being used directly for their tax-exempt purpose.


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3 comments

  • Providence reaches PILOT agreement with Lifespan:

    Mayor Taveras Reaches Groundbreaking Agreement with Lifespan

    Lifespan to contribute $2.4 million over three years; hospital system is first health care institution to make voluntary payment

    PROVIDENCE, RI – Mayor Angel Taveras and Lifespan announced today that the City of Providence and the health care provider have reached an agreement that will have Lifespan contribute $800,000 annually for the next three years in a voluntary agreement. Mayor Taveras heralded the agreement as a groundbreaking partnership that helps Providence immediately. Lifespan, Providence’s largest employer, is the first hospital system to make a voluntary contribution to the city.

    “The agreement we have reached with Lifespan is a groundbreaking partnership that helps Providence take another step forward to strengthen our fiscal ground. This agreement is the first between the city and any hospital, and I hope it inspires the other hospitals who rely on a strong Providence to be a part of the solution that positions our capital city for the future,” said Mayor Taveras. “Lifespan has long been a responsible community partner and a leader in the effort to make Providence a healthier city – especially for our most vulnerable neighbors.”

    The agreement between Lifespan and Providence is completely voluntary. The hospital system will contribute $2.4 million in the next three years. Citing the three-year period for the agreement, both the Mayor and officials from Lifespan pointed to the uncertainty of the rapidly changing health care environment.

    “We recognize that these continue to be challenging times for the city and we understand a strong Providence is central to the health of the entire state.” said Scott Laurans, chairman of the Lifespan board of directors. “This is an important time to stand together and we are pleased to work with Mayor Taveras and other city officials to assist in the economic recovery of the capital city. As both the largest health care provider and employer in the state, we have worked diligently to be an economic engine for Rhode Island. Our action today further demonstrates our commitment to help ensure a strong and vital Providence.”

    Lifespan is a vital community partner in Providence. The network provides charity care for individuals at or below twice the federal poverty level and offers a sliding scale for individuals up to four times the poverty level. In all, Lifespan spent more than $100 million last year on uncompensated care, which has increased dramatically over the past several years.

    In addition, the Lifespan system supports the Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence’s Street Workers program by donating the cost of the street workers’ health care premiums – a $150,000 investment each year. The system has also committed $5 million over 10 years as an anchor tenant in the Prairie Avenue Revitalization Initiative. Also, over the past two years Lifespan has moved more than 300 employees to buildings off Allens Avenue, helping to revitalize an underserved area of Providence and contributing important tax dollars to the City of Providence.

    Lifespan is an economic driver in Providence. The system is an anchor of the city’s Knowledge District and is a leading source of outside investment for Rhode Island. In 2011, the system received $80 million in out-of-state research funding and employees over 800 researchers and investigators. In addition, Lifespan contributed $65 million to the academic mission and $15 million in additional research funding.

  • WPRI: Brown pledges more cash to Providence

    Brown University has agreed to pay Providence $3.9 million this fiscal year, which ends June 30, and a total of $31.5 over the next 11 years. In exchange, and pending City Council approval, the city will give up streets around Brown’s campus and give the university 250 non-exclusive parking permits.

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