| | CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE RHODE ISLAND JOURNAL OF SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING SEPTEMBER 15, 2005 | |
The City Council meets in the Council Chamber on Thursday, September 15, 2005 and is called to order at 7:40 P.M. by Mayor Joseph S. Larisa, Jr.
| Present: | Mayor Joseph S. Larisa, Jr. | ) | |
| | Patrick T. Caine | ) | |
| | Peter F. Midgley | ) | Council Members |
| | Norman J. Miranda | ) | |
| | Valerie A. Perry | ) | |
| | William J. Fazioli | ) | City Manager |
| | William J. Conley, Jr. | ) | City Solicitor |
| | Dana L. Toy | ) | City Clerk |
The invocation is read by Councilwoman Perry and the Salute to the Flag is led by Councilman Midgley.
FY 2006 Budget Proposal
Mr. Fazioli passes out the proposed budget to the Council and makes a powerpoint presentation and highlights some areas for the Council.
The proposed budget calls for $127,935,195, of which $46,655,861 is for the City, $66,640,918 for the School Department, and the remainder $14,638,416 includes Water and Waste Water funds, debt service fund, and contingency fund. Mr. Fazioli states the main budget drivers are the City’s tax transfer to the School Department, a 6.1% increase from FY 2005; rising health insurance costs, which represents a 14% increase; pension contributions increasing, the contemplation of a Workers Comp. Insurance program, and Phase I revaluation.
At this time, the estimated tax rate increase to support this budget would be approximately 4.0% to 5.0% or $0.65 to $0.81 cents per thousand. I am addressing the rising costs of health insurance in hopes of reducing this projected increase and will also be reviewing the Worker’s Compensation proposal in more detail to determine its viability.
Sewer rates are proposed to increase $0.35 cents to keep pace with the third increase from NBC. Water rates proposed to increase $0.55 cents to keep pace with the third increase from PWSB and to provide a renewal and replacement account for pipes.
This is just a beginning of the process and we will be having several public hearings to discuss this. The first public hearing will be on October 4, 2005 and the next one probably on October 18, 2005 and will see where we go from here.
The following people speak on the budget:
Ed Leonard, East Providence
Joseph Martin, Charlotte Street, Riverside
Doreen Carter, Bluff Street, Riverside
Tony Gouveia, School Committee Chairman
Manuel Vinhateiro, Superintendent
Louis Giratis, Jenks Street
John Fahey, Chairman, East Providence Taxpayers Association
John Amaral, Circuit Drive, Riverside
Kathy Santos, Thurston Street, Riverside
Bob Cusack, Greenwood Avenue, Rumford
Jeff Conroy, Linden Avenue, Rumford
Tom Riley, Pawtucket Avenue, East Providence
There being no further business, on motion of Councilman Midgley, seconded by Councilman Miranda, the meeting adjourns at 10:00 p.m.
Attest:
__________________________
Dana L. Toy
City Clerk
Approved: October 18, 2005