Recent News
Council Approves School District’s Construction Application for $400 Million Bond
Providence, RI – Tonight, City Councilors approved the public school district’s construction application that could lead to borrowing up to $400 million in a school construction bond. The Providence Public School District, currently controlled by the Rhode Island...
Council Approves Reallocating $20 Million in American Rescue Plan Act Funds
ARPA Funding Councilors passed for a second and final time changes for spending $20 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Mayor Brett Smiley proposed to the council amending two ARPA ordinances that reallocate spending the remaining ARPA money on long-term...
Councilman John Goncalves Calls for a Pause in the Demolition of Historic Homes
The City of Providence’s Planning Department and the Department of Inspections and Standards could soon issue demolition permits to raze three historic homes at 209, 211, and 217 Angell Street," said Councilman and Senior Deputy Majority Leader John Goncalves (Ward...
Council Passes a New Energy Reporting Requirement for Large Buildings
Providence, RI – During Thursday’s City Council meeting, councilors unanimously passed a new requirement to track energy use in large Providence Buildings. The Building Energy Reporting Program, or “BERO” as it is known, would create and establish a publicly disclosed...
City Council Weighs Reallocation of $20 Million in American Rescue Plan Act Funds
ARPA Funding PROVIDENCE, RI – Councilors received proposed changes for the spending of $20 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Mayor Brett Smiley proposes amending two ARPA ordinances that would shift spending the remaining funds on long-term...
City Council Passes PILOT Agreements with Colleges and Universities
Also Elects a New City Treasurer and Swears in Chief Judge Emeritus Frank Caprio PILOT Agreements Providence, RI - Councilors approved two significant agreements with the city’s tax-exempt higher education institutions, setting a new era of contributions to Providence...
City Council Introduces a City-Wide Rental Registry for Landlords & Sets to Establish Providence as America’s First Climate Jobs City
Rental Housing Registry Providence, RI - Councilors received a proposed ordinance that would create a first-of-its-kind registration for all occupied and vacant rental units throughout the city of Providence. The aim of a rental registry is to help address...
City Council Creates Special Tax Commission to Probe Providence Taxes and Revenue
Providence, RI – Tonight, Councilors passed a resolution creating a nine-member special commission for taxation and revenue. Dramatic shifts over recent years in the real estate market have caused wide fluctuations in property values across the city and have burdened...
City Council Challenges Agreement that Lowered Tax Rates for Downtown Developer
Providence, RI - Attorneys representing the Providence City Council filed a Motion to Intervene in Providence Superior Court in the case entitled Harrisburg Associates, LLC, et al. v. The City of Providence et al. PC-2020-04757. The motion is intended to be the first...
