Proposed Budget With 1% Tax Hike Goes Before City Council

A $167.8 million budget for East Providence will go before a public hearing at the City Council meeting today at 7:30 pm. It includes $72.86 million for the schools.

The meeting starts at 7:30 pm in the Council Chamber in City Hall.

The proposed $167.8 million spending plan calls for a 1 percent tax hike on a 3 percent increase in spending for the city and the schools. The current budget is about $160.5 million. 

The proposed budget also shows another 1 percent decrease in the city’s Homestead Exemption. The new rate will be 13 percent. 

The budget covers the fiscal year that runs from Nov. 1, 2013, to Oct. 31, 2014. It was introduced by Finance Director Malcolm Moore at the Sept. 17 City Council meeting and reviewed line by line at a follow-up workshop on Sept. 24 with the city manager, the finance director and East Providence’s new Municipal Finance Advisor, Paul Luba, who is monitoring spending in the city for the state revenue department under the Fiscal Stability Act.

Luba actually has the final word on the proposed budget.

Here is the complete agenda for tonight’s meeting:

CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE

DOCKET OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

October 1, 2013

Council Chambers, City Hall, 145 Taunton Avenue

7:30 P.M. Open Session 

I.    CALL TO ORDER

II.   SALUTE TO THE FLAG

III.  CONSENT CALENDAR 

A. Letters Received

1. CRMC notice of acceptance of application for feasibility of dwellings Harding Avenue, Plat 313, Lot 15.

2. Middletown Resolution in support of the concept of bringing the Retired Aircraft Carrier USS John F. Kennedy to Newport County as a Family Attraction, Education and Job Training Center, Disaster Relief Facility, Museum and Memorial.

3. CRMC Agenda for Semi-Monthly Meeting Full Council, Tuesday, September 24, 2013 at 6:00 PM, Administration Building, Conference Room A, One Capitol Hill, Providence.

B. Alcoholic Beverage License Class F

1. Sacred Heart Church, 118 Taunton Ave (02914) Annual Dinner October 12, 2013.           

C. Council Journals

1. Regular Council Meeting September 17, 2013 

IV.  PUBLIC COMMENT

V.   APPOINTMENTS

A. Traffic Control

Sandra Sanford, 72 Evergreen Drive Apt. 108 (02914)

REQUIRING PUBLIC HEARING

Licenses are granted subject to all required approvals from State and City departments.

A. Secondhand Miscellaneous

Debra L. Neher DBA Forever & A Day, 298 Willet Avenue (02915), Debra L. Neher, 15 Florence Street (02915)

B. Secondhand Autos and Trucks

Stateline Auto Sales & Service LLC, 987 Warren Avenue (02914), Eric Terceira, 43 Manning Drive (02915)

VII.  LICENSES NOT REQUIRING PUBLIC HEARING

Licenses are granted subject to all required approvals from State and City departments.

A. Annual Renewal of Miscellaneous Licenses Authorization Granting to Renew Subject Licenses, Excluding Alcoholic Beverage Licenses, for Year Commencing December 1, 2012 Upon Application by Licensee and Approval by Chief of Police And, as Required, by Health Inspector and Other City Officials.

Debra L. Neher DBA Forever & A Day, 298 Willet Avenue (02915), Debra L. Neher, 15 Florence Street (02915)

C.Peddler/Hot Dogs

Kathryn Rogers DBA Kasey’s Kitchen, Kathryn Rogers, 116 Ledge Road #2, Seekonk, MA 02771

D. Vict/Over 50

Apple Valley KEMCO, Inc. DBA Kentucky Fried Chicken, 45 Newport Avenue (02916), Kenneth B. Rianna, 50 Cedar Swamp Road, Smithfield (02917)

VIII.  PUBLIC HEARING ORDINANCES FINAL PASSAGE

1. An ordinance regarding restriction of certain trucks on Brentwood Drive, Don Avenue and from Pawtucket Avenue to Weeden Avenue.

AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 18 OF THE REVISEDORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, 1998, AS AMENDED, ENTITLED “VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC”

SECTION I. Section 18-224 entitled “Certain trucks restricted on certain streets” of Article VII entitled “Operation of Vehicles” of Chapter 18 of the Revised Ordinances of the City of East Providence, Rhode Island, 1998, as amended, entitled “Vehicles and Traffic.” is amended by adding thereto the following: Brentwood Drive Don Avenue, from Pawtucket Avenue to Weeden Avenue

SECTION II. This ordinance shall take effect upon its second passage and all ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed. Requested by: Public Works Director

IX. PUBLIC HEARING

A. FY 2013-2014 Budget

ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE APPROPRIATION $167,762,071 FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING OCTOBER 31, 2014 THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE HEREBY ORDAINS:

SECTION I. The general fund receipts for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2014 have been established to amount to $167,762,071 made up as follows:

 SECTION II. To defray the expenses of the City of East Providence for the fiscal year commencing November 1, 2013 and ending October 31, 2014, the sum of money, or so much thereof as are authorized by law indicated in the accompanying schedule, are hereby appropriated for the objects and purposes, and in the amounts expressed therein, provided that payments thereunder shall be subject to the provisions of the City Charter of the City of East Providence and also subject to the provisions of said City Charter relative to the manner and form of expenditures of money set forth in said Charter from the City Treasury.

SECTION III. All monies appropriated are to be expended by the various departments in the manner and form approved by the Director of Finance.

SECTION IV. The payment to the School Fund of the following estimated receipts, included in the appropriation of $72,858,000 for the support of the public schools for the City of East Providence fiscal year 2013-2014, shall be increased or decreased to conform with the actual amounts received from such sources during the fiscal year 2013-2014 except the appropriation of property tax.SECTION V. The purpose of this ordinance is to adopt the Budget for the fiscal year 2013-2014 which begins November 1, 2013 and ends October 31, 2014 as prepared and submitted by the City Manager, and to implement the recommendations as set forth in the City Manager's Budget Message by the approval of said recommendations as contained herein, or by other ordinances or resolutions of the Council of the City of East Providence; all in accordance with the provisions of said Article.

SECTION VI. This ordinance shall take effect upon its passage and all ordinances and parts of ordinances inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.

X. NEW BUSINESS

A. City Managers Report (by City Manager Peter Graczykowski)

 1. Department Activity Report

 2. Deduct Meter Information

 C. Council Members

1. RIGL 45-9 Explanation (by Mayor Briden)

2. Community Event Announcements (by Councilwoman Rossi)

3. Welcoming Businesses (by Councilwoman Capobianco)

4. Forbes Street (by Councilwoman Capobianco)

D. Report of School Committee Liaison

E. Resolutions

1. A RESOLUTION DESIGNATING THE CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE  AS A PROPERTY-ASSESSED CLEAN ENERGY MUNICIPALITY “PACE MUNICIPALITY” F. Introduction of Ordinances

1.ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE ORDERING THE ASSESSMENT AND COLLECTION OF PROPERTY TAX ON THE RATABLE REAL ESTATE, TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY, AND AN EXCISE TAX ON REGISTERED MOTER VEHICLES AND TRAILERS. THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE HEREBY ORDAINS:

SECTION I. That the Council of the City of the City of East Providence hereby orders the assessment and collection of a tax on ratable real estate, tangible personal property and an excise tax on registered motor vehicles and trailers in a sum not more than One Hundred Five Million Eight Hundred Seven Thousand Nine Hundred and Seventy One ($105,807,971) dollars nor less than One Hundred One Million Seven Hundred Thirty Eight Thousand Four Hundred and Thirty Four ($101,738,434) dollars. Said tax is for ordinary expenses, for the payment of interest and indebtedness, in whole or in part, of said city ,and for other purposes authorized by law.

SECTION II. The Tax Assessor shall assess and apportion said tax on the inhabitants and ratable property of said city as of the 31st day of December, 2013 at twelve o'clock Eastern Standard Time, according to law, and shall on completion of said assessment, date and sign same and shall make out and certify to the City Treasurer of the City of East Providence, who is charged with the duties for the collection of taxes, on or before the 15th day of June, 2014 a complete list of the names of the persons taxed and of the total value of all the real estate and personal property assessed against each person, and also the amount of registered motor vehicles and trailers assessed against each person, and also the total amount assessed against each person on said real estate, personal estate and registered motor vehicles and trailers, opposite the name of the person or persons assessed. Upon receipt of the certified tax list by the City Treasurer, he shall proceed and collect said tax on the persons and estates liable thereof; said tax shall be due and payable on and between the 1st day of June 2014 and the 1st day of July, 2014 and provided further that if said tangible personal property, motor vehicle, and real estate taxes are paid in full on or before the 1st day of July, 2014, a discount of one per centum (1.0%) of the total taxes on said tangible personal property, motor vehicles, and real estate shall be granted, and all taxes remaining unpaid on the 1st day of July, 2014 shall carry until collected a penalty at the rate of twelve per centum (12%) per annum from the 1st day of June, 2014 upon said unpaid tax, however, said taxes may bepaid in four installments; the first installment of twenty-five per centum (25%) on or before the 1st day of July, 2014, the second installment of twenty-five per centum (25%) on or before the 1st day of September, 2014, the third installment of twenty-five per centum (25%) on or before the 1st day of December, 2014 and the fourth installment of twenty-five per centum (25%) on or before the 1st day of March, 2015.

SECTION III. This ordinance shall take effect upon its second passage and all ordinances and parts of ordinances inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.

Requested By: Finance Director

2. AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE TO BORROW FUNDS IN ANTICIPATION OF TAXES.

3. AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE TO BORROW FUNDS IN ANTICIPATION OF REVENUE.

XI. ADJOURNMENT