PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 18, 2023
CONTACT INFO. :
Office of the Mayor
Patricia Resende
Dir. of Communications & Project Mgt.
(401) 435-7500 Ext 11013
Note to Editors: Photo caption: East Providence Mayor Bob DaSilva signs FY 23-24 Budget
East Providence mayor signs FY 2023-2024 Council-adopted budget
EAST PROVIDENCE, RI – Mayor Bob DaSilva has signed the fiscal year 2023-2024 budget ordinance as adopted by the East Providence City Council by a unanimous vote of 5-0 during the October 17, 2023 City Council meeting. The $218,914,964 budget reflects tight fiscal management while also providing the highest level of city services that our East Providence residents expect.
“I would like to thank the Council for taking the time to review the proposed budget, which I believe was a sound and fiscally responsible proposal,” Mayor Bob DaSilva said. “For many council members it was their first budget process and I appreciate their diligence.
“The City Council’s changes to the budget will pose some challenges in our next fiscal year, but our administration will do its best to ensure this funding continues to provide the highest level of services for our community,” DaSilva added.
The Mayor’s proposed increase of $7.5M related to the following were kept in place by the East Providence City Council:
- A $1.5M increase of voter-approved debt services – Martin Middle and Waddington Elementary Schools
- A $3M increase for the School Department ($2M - City & $1M - School State Aid)
- A $500K increase for the statutorily-required property revaluation assessment
- $1.2M increase for municipal salaries, contractual obligations and related benefits
- $300K in Refuse/Recycling Tipping Fees increase
- $400K Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) increases per the City’s Actuarially-Required Contribution (ARC)
- $600K Firemen’s and Policemen’s Pension Fund increases to meet the City’s ARC
- Inflation/Increase of cost of goods and services including utilities such as electricity, heating and gas
The Council’s amendments to the Mayor’s FY23-24 budget include:
- The transfer of other line items of $311,647 to debt services for Martin Middle School
- A transfer of $150,328 from the public safety communications overtime line to the regular salaries line
The Council also made the following reductions:
- A reduction of $175,000 from the legal services line
- A reduction of $152,347 from the professional services line
- A reduction in capital of $3,000
In total, the final tax levy represents an increase of 3.5 percent over last year’s levy. The increase to individual property owners will be determined later in the year prior to tax bills being mailed out. The City’s new fiscal year begins November 1st, tax bills will be mailed in May 2024.
