We ran down the list of 11 City of Providence ballot questions in a previous post, here are the statewide questions on the November 6th ballot.
[alert type=”warning”]Update: All statewide ballot questions passed however, voters in Newport rejected a casino at Newport Grand.[/alert] [alert type=”warning”]Find further details about each ballot question and information on how to vote in the Rhode Island Voter Information Handbook 2012[/alert]QUESTION 1:
1. STATE CONSTITUTIONAL APPROVAL
(APPROVAL OF AN ACT AUTHORIZING STATE-OPERATED CASINO GAMING AT TWIN RIVER IN THE TOWN OF LINCOLN)
(Section 22 of Article VI of the Constitution)
Shall an act be approved which would authorize the facility known as “Twin River” in the town of Lincoln to add state-operated casino gaming, such as table games, to the types of gambling it offers?
APPROVE
REJECT
QUESTION 2:
2. STATE CONSTITUTIONAL APPROVAL
(APPROVAL OF AN ACT AUTHORIZING STATE-OPERATED CASINO GAMING AT NEWPORT GRAND IN THE CITY OF NEWPORT)
(Section 22 of Article VI of the Constitution)
Shall an act be approved which would authorize the facility known as “Newport Grand” in the city of Newport to add state-operated casino gaming, such as table games, to the types of gambling it offers?
APPROVE
REJECT
QUESTION 3
3. HIGHER EDUCATION FACILITIES BONDS $50,000,000
(Chapter 241 – Public Laws 2012)
Approval of this question will allow the State of Rhode Island to issue general obligation bonds, refunding bonds, and temporary notes in an amount not to exceed fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) for renovations and modernization of academic buildings at Rhode Island College including renovation, upgrade and expansion of health and nursing facilities on the campus of Rhode Island College.
APPROVE
REJECT
QUESTION 4:
4. VETERANS’ HOME BONDS $94,000,000
(Chapter 241 – Public Laws 2012)
Approval of this question will allow the State of Rhode Island to issue general obligation bonds, refunding bonds, and temporary notes in an amount not to exceed ninety-four million dollars ($94,000,000) for the construction of a new Veterans’ Home and renovations to existing facilities. Any funding amount from federal sources received for these purposes will be used to reduce the amount of borrowed funds.
APPROVE
REJECT
QUESTION 5:
5. CLEAN WATER FINANCE AGENCY BONDS $20,000,000
(Chapter 241- Public Laws 2012)
Approval of this question will authorize the State of Rhode Island to issue general obligation bonds, refunding bonds, and temporary notes in an amount not to exceed twelve million dollars ($12,000,000) to be leveraged with federal and state capitalization grants to finance wastewater infrastructure projects and eight million dollars ($8,000,000) to be leveraged with federal and state capitalization grants to finance drinking water infrastructure projects.
APPROVE
REJECT
QUESTION 6:
6. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT BONDS $20,000,000
(Chapter 241 – Public Laws 2012)
Approval of this question will allow the State of Rhode Island to issue general obligation bonds, refunding bonds, and temporary notes for environmental and recreational purposes to be allotted as follows:
- Narragansett Bay and Watershed Restoration $4,000,000 Provides funds for activities to restore and protect the water quality and enhance the economic viability and environmental sustainability of Narragansett Bay and the State’s watersheds. Eligible activities include: nonpoint source pollution abatement, including stormwater management; nutrient loading abatement; commercial, industrial and agricultural pollution abatement; and riparian buffer and watershed ecosystem restoration.
- State Land Acquisition – Open Space $2,500,000 Provides funds for the purchase of land, development rights and conservation easements in Rhode Island. This
program acquires recreational and open space lands for the State of Rhode Island in accordance with the Rhode Island Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, Land Protection Plan, and the Rhode Island Greenspace 2000 plan. - Farmland Development Rights $4,500,000 Provides funds for the purchase of agricultural development rights to active farms in Rhode Island. The State purchases the development rights to farms to eliminate the economic pressure on farmers to sell properties for residential and commercial development. The Agricultural Land Preservation Commission accepts and evaluates farmland applications for these funds.
- Local Land Acquisition Grants $2,500,000 Provides funds for grants to municipalities, local land trusts and non-profit organizations to acquire fee-simple title, development rights, or conservation easements to open space in Rhode Island. The grants provide funding up to fifty percent (50%) of the purchase price for land, surveys, appraisals and title costs. The grant applications are reviewed and evaluated by the Governor’s Natural Heritage Preservation Commission according to the program guidelines.
- Local Recreation Grants $5,500,000 Provides grants to municipalities for acquisition, development, or rehabilitation of local recreational facilities. These grants provide funding assistance up to fifty percent (50%) of the project costs. All grant applications are evaluated and ranked by the State Recreation Resources Review Committee.
- Historic/Passive Parks $1,000,000 Provides grants to municipalities for the renovation and development of historic and passive recreation areas. The grants provide funding assistance up to ninety percent (90%) of the project costs. All grant applications are evaluated and ranked by the State Recreation Resources Review Committee.
APPROVE
REJECT
QUESTION 7:
7. AFFORDABLE HOUSING BONDS $25,000,000
(Chapter 241 – Public Laws 2012)
Approval of this question will allow the State of Rhode Island to issue general obligation bonds, refunding bonds, and temporary notes in an amount not to exceed twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) for affordable housing.
APPROVE
REJECT
I’m a bit surprised transportation bonds aren’t on the ballot.
I think RIDOT is very cognizant at this point of the hole they are quickly digging for themselves by turning everything into a Bond. There debt service is currently the largest part of their budget, it is unsustainable.
There are no transportation bonds on the ballot because the state match for the Federal funds is being provided from capital asset funds and the phase-in of higher registration and license fees. I think this is largely a good thing to reduce borrowing (the opposite of what Providence is proposing!) as over time this shoud help reduce the RIDOT debt service allowing more operating funds for needed maintenance. Unfortunately the changes in the law did not help RIPTA whose large operating deficit was not addressed.
By the way, I hope voters will support the bonds that are on the ballot, especially #3 for public higher education, #5 for clean water, and #6 for protecting natural areas, parks, and farmland.
I’m wondering what kind of Veterans Home we’re getting for $94mm. The second Westin tower cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $50mm.
WPRI: Veterans plead case for Question 4
The story notes that the Journal editorialized against approving Question 4 and suggested the state would be better served by moving more towards federal programs to support Veterans.
Yep… while I support our troops and veterans… that’s a whole crapload of money that I feel should come from the federal gov’t.
RINPR: Can RI afford bonds for a new Veterans’ Home?