Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PROVIDENCE -- Governor Carcieri plans to sign the state budget tomorrow at 1 p.m., the final step in finalizing the $6.9 billion tax-and-spend approved by the General Assembly last week.

The plan will become law after it is signed, and outlines virtually all state spending for the budget year that begins July 1.

The governor's office issued a statement this afternoon announcing the signing ceremony, which will take place in the ornate State Room on the second floor of the State House.

"This signing will mark the resolution of the budget crisis while avoiding any broad based tax increases, an accomplishment that is a credit to the House Speaker Murphy, Senate President Montalbano, and all legislators,” Governor Carcieri said. “It also marks the introduction of structural reforms that will reduce projected deficits in future years.”

The House Finance Committee estimates that the budget will lead to a $97-million deficit for the coming fiscal year, which is down considerably from previous projections.

Murphy and Montalbano are expected to attend the ceremony.

Among other things, the budget increases local education assistance for cities and towns, but freezes non-education aid at reduced levels. It includes $90 million in cuts to the state’s work force (which have yet to be detailed) and another $67 million in savings by reducing Medicaid programs that serve the state's poor, elderly and disabled.

After the budget was passed by the Democrat-led House, the Republican Carcieri said, “This budget represents a watershed moment in the recent history of Rhode Island state government. In the face of a severe fiscal crisis, we have worked together to reduce spending and balance the budget without raising taxes.”

-- Steve Peoples, Journal's State House Bureau

Comments

Sue said:

Once again savings are put on the backs of working people and the poor to support tax breaks for the rich who can well afford to pay a bigger share

Link | June 25, 2008 6:06 PM
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Marie said:

A signing ceremony? We are making a spectacle out of taking from our most volnerable population. They should all be ashamed of themselves!!!

Link | June 25, 2008 6:21 PM
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Bill said:

Great job Governor, finally someone who won't give our hard earned tax dollars to the entitlement society and the unions. The only way to fix the problems of this state is to promote business, if there is a favorable business climate in this state they will come and if they do people will have jobs, it's a simple solution.

Link | June 26, 2008 10:04 AM
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