Dear Neighbors:
Springtime is a time of renewal, a time to brighten our spirits as well as our days. In this week’s letter, I will discuss my visit to the Springfield Empowerment Zone and the City Council’s debate concerning taxes.
A. The Springfield Empowerment Zone
1. A Model Of Adult Collaboration To Benefit Students
On Tuesday, I joined a group from Providence that visited the Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership, a collaborative formed of community members and educators to save the district’s middle schools from a State takeover. As documented in their Presentation, the collaboration has brought great benefits to the children and educators in a district that bears many similar features to Providence. We met with teachers and administrators who spoke eloquently about how they work together to do what is best for children, a welcome contrast to the discord we see on occasion in the Providence Public Schools. We saw a school culture in which the educators are more fulfilled, and the students achieve better outcomes.
2. Bringing Springfield’s Model To Providence Public Schools
The Senate Study Commission Report (at pages 33-35) describes some of the structures in the Springfield Empowerment Zone that support its culture, and which can be brought to Providence to support the same kind of progress. To build these structures, we will need, among other things, to revise Rhode Island education law to better align with the law of Massachusetts, as set forth in five Senate bills I have introduced for consideration and, hopefully, passage.
B. Taxes In Providence
1. The Paiva Weed Tax Law
Fourteen years ago, I began my first term on the Providence City Council in the midst of what Mayor Taveras called a “Category Five Fiscal Hurricane.” I remember feeling I had signed on as a member of the H.M.S. Titanic’s crew just after the ship struck an iceberg. Among other emergency measures, we had to ask the General Assembly’s permission to increase the property tax levy beyond the 4% threshold allowed under the State’s Paiva Weed law. The General Assembly approved our request, and that year’s budget incorporated a number of revenue and expenditure reforms to help stabilize the City’s finances going forward.
2. The City’s Increased Commitment To Public Education
In the past year, the City of Providence agreed to a major increase in education funding as part of the State takeover. On Thursday night, the Providence City Council voted 14-0 to approve a resolution to seek the General Assembly’s limited authority to exceed the Paiva Weed tax cap. I listened to their Debate (which begins at the 44 minute mark). They view an extraordinary tax increase as a last resort as they aggressively pursue budgetary savings and alternative revenue sources.
3. The City’s Revaluation And Budget Process
This year’s property tax picture is complicated by the triennial statistical revaluation, which will result in a lower tax rate applied to (generally) higher property values. Councilwoman Anthony’s March 11 letter 0ffers an introductory overview of the revaluation process. Next month, the Mayor will provide one possible combination of rates and taxes in his proposed budget. In the meantime, the Mayor and the City Council have asked the General Assembly to grant them authority to increase the levy as a possible tool to produce a balanced budget later this year. As a General Assembly member, I will support the City government’s efforts to develop a balanced budget that provides vital City services in the most cost effective and equitable way possible.