Providence City Council Approves First Passage of Fiscal Year 2018 Budget

Providence City Council Approves First Passage of Fiscal Year 2018 Budget

Fiscally responsible budget streamlines spending, reforms tax penalties, improves quality of life in every Providence neighborhood

The Providence City Council tonight approved first passage of the $737M city budget for the 2018 fiscal year. The budget is the result of strong collaboration and shared goals between the City Council and Elorza Administration to produce a fiscally responsible budget that includes no tax increases, invests in schools and neighborhoods, includes strategies to stimulate the economy and ensures city departments streamline operations and maximize efficiencies. The 2018 budget strengthens contributions to the rainy day fund to increase the city’s bond rating and allow for more efficiency in future borrowing practices, increases economic development, builds the city’s tax base, and improves quality of life for all city residents.

“This budget prioritizes spending to support our public schools and quality of life in all of our neighborhoods,” said Acting Council President Sabina Matos. “It also includes important investments to our rainy day fund and provides much-needed tax reform.”

“I am pleased to announce that we’re holding the line on tax increases for the third year in a row, contributing to the rainy day fund, and investing in quality of life initiatives to benefit all Providence neighborhoods,” said Finance Committee Chairman John Igliozzi.

Council-led budget initiatives include:

Tax Reform

  • The current penalty system for late tax payments assesses interest and penalties based on the total annual tax obligation, regardless of the quarter in which the payment is late, or if all other payments have been made on time. This new budget reforms the appropriation ordinance to end this aggressive practice, replacing it with a fair policy that will charge interest and penalties based only on the amount of the quarterly tax obligation for which the late payment is assigned.

Traffic Calming and Nuisance Control

  • Allocation of $300,000 to build on a revenue-neutral neighborhood traffic calming program to be led by the Providence Police Department. Successfully piloted last year in Ward 5, this program funds placement of police detail in neighborhood traffic hot spots where speeding, lack of compliance with stop signs, and other infractions pose public safety issues. This program increases police visibility in neighborhoods across the city, and also allows additional officers to be more nimble in enforcement of noise ordinance violations. This successful program is revenue-neutral, as the revenue raised by fines levied pays for the cost of the detail.

Public Safety

  • Allocation to run a second cohort of police and fire academies.

Neighborhood Infrastructure Program

  • Allocation of $1.5 million dollars to the Council’s successful Neighborhood Infrastructure Program. Initiated last year, this popular program paid for parks and bricks and mortar improvements to neighborhoods across the city, including significant upgrades and renovations to city pools, school buildings, recreation centers, parks and sidewalks.

Blight Removal Pilot Program

  • Allocation of $200,000 to pilot a city-wide blight removal program. While the Mayor’s Every Home program focuses on rehabbing abandoned properties around the city, some structures are too costly to rehab and are a persistent source of neighborhood blight and infringe on the quality of life for surrounding homes. This program will target demolition of these properties, and turn the remaining lot into public green space or expansion of yards for neighboring properties. This program will be administered by the Department of Inspection and Standards and will provide much-needed relief for communities impacted by the detrimental effects of long-standing blight.

Investments in PVD Fest
• PVD Fest is a landmark event for the city, and becomes more popular each year. The 2018 fiscal year budget allocates dollars to sustain and grow this important and successful festival.

Ryan to Introduce Keg Accountability Ordinance

Ryan to Introduce Keg Accountability Ordinance

Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5) will tonight introduce an ordinance that aims to curb irresponsible and underage drinking that undermines safety and quality of life in Providence neighborhoods. The proposed ordinance makes it easier for law enforcement officers to find the source of kegs provided to minors, requires more legal responsibility from adults obtaining kegs, and codifies a more transparent process for obtaining kegs at liquor stores.

 

Currently, officers called to off-campus parties in Providence neighborhoods are left without a paper trail to determine how underage drinkers obtained the kegs purchased on their behalf. Although officers can confiscate kegs, the source of the problem often remains unaddressed.

 

“This ordinance enhances our existing state law to establish greater accountability for keg purchases and distribution,” said Councilwoman Ryan. “It is a product of our strong collaboration with police officers, school officials, and neighbors to improve safety and quality of life in all of our neighborhoods.”

 

If passed, the ordinance will require buyers to make a $75 keg deposit at the time of purchase. The deposit is refundable if the keg is returned to the store within 30 days with the state-mandated keg label intact.

 

Buyers would also be required to sign a document, known as an adult responsibility form, attesting under penalty of perjury that the information they provide for the keg label and other records is accurate. The form also requires keg buyers to attest that they will not allow underage consumption.

 

Stores selling kegs of beer would be required to record identifying information from buyers and retain those records, as well as copies of each adult responsibility form, for at least 180 days after each keg is returned. Records must include the name and address of the purchaser, the form of identification used and the identification card number, the date and time of the purchase, the approximate time and location of the event where the beer will be dispensed, the number of kegs purchased, and the individual identification numbers for each keg.

 

If passed, the ordinance would mandate $500 penalties for violations. 

Providence City Council Approves First Passage of Fiscal Year 2018 Budget

Council Overrides Veto of ‘No Smoking’ Ordinance

The Providence City Council tonight voted to override Mayor Elorza’s veto of an ordinance that aims to protect the public from secondhand smoke in a dense area of public spaces that comprise Providence’s downtown core. The ordinance was approved by the Council on May 24th and vetoed by Mayor Elorza on June 2nd. Tonight’s vote effectively sets the ordinance into law.

 

The area in which smoking will be prohibited is home to high-density foot traffic and is used by thousands of people— including residents, visitors, and children— on a daily basis year-round. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), second-hand smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, 70 of which cause cancer. The CDC states the only way to fully protect non-smokers is the elimination of smoking from all homes, worksites and public places. The World Health Organization reports that almost half of children regularly breathe air polluted by tobacco in public places.

 

“Everyone deserves access to healthy public spaces,” said Acting Council President Sabina Matos. “There is no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke. This is a commonsense measure that mitigates second-hand smoke exposure in our most congested public spaces.”

Smoking is already prohibited in parks, playgrounds, and areas around schools. With similar restrictions already in place throughout the City of Providence, Matos sees this ordinance as an extension of existing policy.

 

“We all know that second-hand smoke is detrimental to health,” said Finance Committee Chairman John Igliozzi. “Legislation that promotes public health is always good public policy.”

 

Many municipalities around the country have enacted similar or more extensive laws regarding smoking in public areas.

 

Calabasas, CA enacted a smoking ban in 2006 that makes it a misdemeanor to smoke where a non-smoker could congregate. This includes public sidewalks as well as apartment complexes. This is punishable by a fine of at least $250.

 

Boise, ID enacted a ban in 2012 that bans smoking from all public places accessible to children and all spaces owned by the public.

                                                                                                                                                                                                         In 2012, Alameda, CA enacted a smoking ban that prohibits smoking in outdoor public places, including commercial-area sidewalks, defined as public sidewalks in downtown shopping and business areas.

Providence City Council Approves First Passage of Fiscal Year 2018 Budget

Providence City Committee on Finance Approves Fiscal Year 2018 Budget

 

Tonight, the Providence City Council Finance Committee approved the 737 million dollar city budget for the 2018 fiscal year. This budget is the result of the Elorza Administration and the Council’s mutual goal to produce a fiscally responsible city budget that includes no tax increases, invests in schools and neighborhoods, includes strategies to stimulate the economy and asks city departments to streamline operations and maximize efficiencies. The budget focuses on developing a rainy day fund that will help increase the city’s bond rating, thereby allowing the city to be more efficient in future borrowing practices, increasing economic development, building the city’s tax base, providing an excellent quality of life for city residents.

 

Council led initiatives in the budget include:

 

Tax Reform:
• The current penalty system for late tax payments assesses interest and penalties based on the total annual tax obligation, regardless of what quarter the payment is late in or if all other payments have been made on time. This new budget reforms the appropriation ordinance to end this aggressive practice, replacing it with a fair policy that will charge interest and penalties based only on the amount of the quarterly tax obligation for which the late payment is assigned.

 

Traffic Calming and Nuisance Control:
• Allocation of $300,000 to build on a revenue-neutral neighborhood traffic calming program to be led by the Providence Police Department. Successfully piloted last year in Ward 5, this program funds placement of police detail in neighborhood traffic hot spots where speeding, lack of compliance with stop signs and other infractions pose public safety issues. This program increases police visibility in neighborhoods across the city, and also allows additional officers to be more nimble in the enforcement of noise ordinance violations. This successful program is revenue neutral, as the revenue raised by fines levied pays for the cost of the detail.

 

Public Safety:
• This budget allocates money to run a second cohort of police and fire academies.

Neighborhood Infrastructure Program
• Allocation of $1.5 million dollars to the Council’s successful Neighborhood Infrastructure Program. Initiated last year, this popular program paid for parks and bricks and mortar improvements to neighborhoods across the city, including significant upgrades and renovations to city pools, school buildings, recreation centers, parks and sidewalks.

 

Blight Removal Pilot Program:
• Allocation $200,000 to pilot a city-wide blight removal program. While the Mayor’s Every Home program focuses on rehabbing abandoned properties around the city, some structures are too costly to rehab and are a persistent source of neighborhood blight and infringe on the quality of life for surrounding homes. This program will target demolition of these properties, and turn the remaining lot into public green space or expansion of yards for neighboring properties. This program will be administered by the Department of Inspection and Standards and will provide much-needed relief for communities hobbled by the detrimental effects of long-standing blighted properties.

 

Investments in PVD Fest:
• Every year, PVD Fest becomes more popular and is a landmark event for the city. This budget allocates dollars to sustain and grow this important and successful festival.

Statement Regarding Former Council President Fargnoli’s Passing

Statement Regarding Former Council President Fargnoli’s Passing

The Providence City Council today issued the following statement regarding Evelyn Fargnoli’s Passing:

 “The members of the Providence City Council are saddened to learn of former Council President Evelyn Fargnoli’s passing and wish her family their condolences. Councilwoman Fargnoli was a true pioneer in Providence politics and leaves behind a remarkable legacy of public service.”

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