$539 Million FY 2022 City Budget Clears Providence Finance Committee

by Abigail Appel | Jul 7, 2021 | Council News, Press Release

This evening, the Providence City Council’s Finance Committee voted to approve a $539 million FY 2022 City budget that addresses some of the immediate impacts caused to residents, small businesses, and community organizations by the COVID-19 pandemic, while investing in key city services, and holding the line on residential and commercial property taxes.

“In a very difficult environment filled with uncertainty and the continued impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, I am thankful to have worked collaboratively with my colleagues on the Finance Committee and the Elorza Administration to pass a City budget that invests in our recovery and key City services, while holding the line of property taxes,” said Councilwoman and Finance Chair Jo-Ann Ryan. “Thanks to American Recovery Plan Act stimulus funds, this budget invests over $42 million in COVID-19 relief for our small businesses, community centers, and other projects that will address both immediate needs and pay long term dividends. In addition, I am pleased that this budget invests in public safety, expands Pre-K classrooms, and continues investments in affordable housing.”

“I want to thank the members of the Finance Committee and Mayor Elorza for working so hard to develop a fiscally responsible FY 2022 City budget that will help Providence recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, invests in the services our residents expect, and holds the line on taxes,” said Council President John Igliozzi.

FY 2022 City budget highlights:

• No property tax increases.
• Invests in the Department of Inspections and Standards to deal with quality-of-life issues.
• Invests in the Department of Public Property to hire additional personnel to handle projects in a more efficient and timely fashion.
• Creates a new Department of Equity and Inclusion.
• Invests in public safety.
• Continues to invest in City parks with a portion of Tax Stabilization revenue going to the Parks and Recreation fund.
• Provides an additional $300,000 for Providence Community Centers for programs that qualify for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) resources.
• Creates a new Community Relations and Diversion Services Major position within the Providence Police Department.
• 10% of tax revenue from projects with a Tax Stabilization Agreement (TSA) will be dedicated to supporting debt service on the $25M Providence Redevelopment Agency Special Obligation Bond that funded the Providence Housing Trust in FY21.
• Invests $350,000 to expand the number of pre-kindergarten classrooms in Providence, increasing access to quality early learning programs.
• Invests ARPA funds for night basketball, recreational center programs for our youths, free internet access at our largest parks and recreation centers, sewer repair fund, and a $7 million small business relief fund.

The FY 2022 City budget now goes before the full City Council for final approval. The Council is expected to approve the budget by July 15.

Providence City Council To Include $300,000 In Stimulus Funding for WaterFire

by Abigail Appel | Jun 28, 2021 | Council News, Press Release

Commerce RI to match with an additional $300,000 investment in WaterFire.

The Providence City Council will amend an ordinance, recently passed by the Committee on Finance, approving more than $42 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) investments to include an additional $300,000 for WaterFire. The funding will allow the City’s venerable arts and culture institution to relaunch WaterFire in September, providing a much-needed boost to downtown’s tourism and hospitality sector. Commerce RI will also match the City’s investment with an additional $300,000 award to WaterFire.

“After extensive conversations with Barnaby Evans of WaterFire and other stakeholders, the Council is pleased to announce the use of $300,000 in ARPA funding to allow the organization to once again light up downtown beginning in September,” said Providence City Council President John Igliozzi. “Our goal with this first round of ARPA funds is to address immediate community needs coming out of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We have heard loud and clear that we need to help spark Providence’s tourism and hospitality sector, and the relighting of WaterFire’s braziers will do just that, bringing tens of thousands of visitors to enjoy a beautiful evening outside, stay at our hotels, and dine at our world-class restaurants. After discussing this situation with Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor, I’m also thrilled to share that Commerce RI will be investing an additional $300,000 to ensure that WaterFire burns bright.”

“Waterfire is an iconic tradition with a huge economic and cultural impact on our City and State,” said Mayor Jorge O. Elorza. “Another year without a Waterfire would have been unimaginable and I am proud to have worked with the Providence City Council to make sure that Waterfire returns to Downtown Providence.”

“The Providence City Council has a long track record of supporting WaterFire including providing over $489,000 in direct support, passing a tax stabilization for the organization, and entering into a Partnership Agreement waiving parking revenue and providing for police details,” said Councilwoman and Finance Chair Jo-Ann Ryan. “One of our priorities in making these first round of ARPA investments has been to support our small businesses who have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. After hearing from many stakeholders including restaurants and cultural venues, we agree that WaterFire can help provide the needed shot in the arm to bring visitors back to our great City to enjoy all downtown has to offer. This $300,000 is both an investment in kickstarting our tourism and hospitality sector and in one of Providence’s most loved arts and culture institutions. Finally, the City Council is committed to working with WaterFire to help the organization develop a more sustainable business model.”

“I want to thank Council President Igliozzi and Councilwoman Ryan for working with us to help bring back WaterFire to downtown Providence in September,” said Barnaby Evans, Executive Artistic Director of WaterFire. “This funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act, along with the State’s, will allow us to hire back event staff, install the equipment, and then host fall WaterFire evenings that will bring thousands of visitors to downtown. We know that relighting our braziers is also going to attract visitors and ignite economic activity at a time when so many of our City’s incredible hotels and restaurants are rebounding from a very challenging year. WaterFire is back, and we thank the City Council for this funding and for being such a dedicated partner for many years.”

Providence Finance Committee Approves $42 Million In Stimulus Funds For Small Business Relief, Youth Investments, Free Public Internet Access & More

by Abigail Appel | Jun 26, 2021 | Council News, Press Release

Last night, the Providence City Council’s Committee on Finance approved more than $42 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for investments in key priorities including summer programming, early learning, free public internet access at city parks and recreation centers, anti-violence, homeless intervention, street sweeping and sewer repairs, libraries, and relief for Providence’s small businesses. A full summary of APRA funding approved is included below.

“We are very fortunate to be able to utilize these much-needed American Rescue Plan Act stimulus dollars to help the City of Providence rebound from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Providence City Council President John J. Igliozzi. “I want to thank Mayor Elorza and Councilwoman Ryan for working together to quickly develop and pass this ordinance to get these resources out the door and to our city’s residents, youth, and small businesses. These are smart investments in programs that will have immediate impacts for our residents and infrastructure that will pay dividends for years to come. Investments like bringing free public internet access to all of Providence’s parks and community centers so our residents have access to digital resources for learning, doing business, and so much more.”

“Providence residents, youth, and our small businesses were all hit hard by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, but with these American Rescue Plan Act resources we are laying the foundation for a tremendous comeback,” said Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan, Chair of the Finance Committee. “Working with my colleagues on the Council and with Mayor Elorza, we collaboratively developed this list of key priorities that will address some of the immediate impacts of the pandemic, while also making longer term investments in our city. I am particularly pleased to see investments in our youth summer basketball league, free public internet access for our youth and families, street sweeping and sewer repairs, and direct relief for our small businesses. This is only our first round of ARPA investments. As we receive additional ARPA funds, the Finance Committee in collaboration with Mayor Elorza will continue to listen to the community to identify additional investments to move our city forward. We encourage everyone to participate in this process and to share your thoughts and ideas for how we can build Providence back better and stronger.”

The first round ARPA investments ordinance will next go before the full City Council for final approval, expected by the end of July. This is the first allocation of substantial ARPA funds the City of Providence is set to receive.

ARPA Summer Programming:

Summer Camp for Providence Residents                                                            $    600,000

Summer Jobs for Providence Youth                                                                      $ 1,000,000

Night Basketball                                                                                                         $      80,000

TOTAL ELIGIBLE SUMMER PROGRAMMING                                                      $ 1,680,000

                                                                                         

ARPA Youth Investments:

Early Learning Infrastructure                                                                                  $  1,000,000

Youth and Family Broadband Access                                                                   $  1,000,000

TOTAL YOUTH INVESTMENT FUNDS                                                                   $  2,000,000

 

ARPA Anti-Violence Investments

Mentoring Program                                                                                                  $ 1,100,000

Non-violence training                                                                                               $    500,000

Year-round youth jobs                                                                                              $ 1,000,000

TOTAL ANTI-VIOLENCE INVESTMENTS                                                                $ 2,600,000

 

ARPA Funding to Providence Redevelopment Agency (PRA)

Roger Williams Park Gateway                                                                                 $ 4,000,000
TOTAL FUNDING TO PRA                                                                                        $ 4,000,000

 

ARPA Grants to Libraries:

Providence Community Library                                                                              $    500,000

Providence Public Library                                                                                     $    100,000

TOTAL GRANTS TO LIBRARIES                                                                              $    600,000

 

ARPA Grants to Non-profits:

Homelessness Intervention                                                                                     $    500,000

Providence Center                                                                                                     $    187,339

TOTAL GRANTS TO NON-PROFITS                                                                       $    687,339

 

ARPA Sewer Water Investment

Street Sweeping and Sewer Repair                                                                       $ 3,000,000

TOTAL FUNDING                                                                                                        $ 3,000,000       

 

ARPA Funding to General Fund:

FY21 Revenue Recovery                                                                                           $19,457,352

TOTAL FUNDING TO GENERAL FUND                                                                   $19,457,352

 

 

ARPA Small business relief program:

Relief for small business in Providence                                                                $  7,000,000

TOTAL FUNDING                                                                                                        $  7,000,000

 

ARPA Administration:

FY21 Administrative Expenditures                                                                         $ 1,220,000

TOTAL ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDING                                                                     $ 1,220,000

 

GRAND TOTAL FUNDING 4/29/2021 – 12/31/2024                                         $42,344,691