R.I. Gov. Cuts Millions in Local Aid to Close Deficit
Gov. Don Carcieri proposed closing Rhode Island's ballooning budget deficit Monday by cutting roughly $125 million in state funding for cities, towns and schools, putting local leaders under tremendous pressure to cut costs or raise property taxes.
The plan from the Republican governor is meant to close a $220 million budget deficit for the fiscal year ending in June, a shortfall of roughly 7 percent of what state authorities expected to collect. That budget gap grew as a bruising recession pushed unemployment to nearly 13 percent.
As people lose jobs, they are paying less in income taxes and buying fewer goods, driving down sales tax collections. After trimming the state work force and social welfare spending, Carcieri is now forcing local...
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