As Chair of the Education Subcommittee on Finance, I am conducting hearings on the Providence Teachers Union contract.   Here are some links to media reports of the Subcommittee’s work, as well as interim reports the Subcommittee has generated to date.

 

• Brown Daily Herald article: Hearings address Providence teachers contracts

• Providence City Council - website description of the hearing

• Providence City Council -  Powerpoint Presentation

• Providence City Council - my remarks at the start of the hearing

• Providence City Council - overview of cost drivers in the Providence Teachers' Union contract

• Providence City Council Report - Comparing Selected Provisions in the Providence Teachers Union Contract to Other RI Contracts
  
  

• Please click on this link  Final Report.pdf  to read the final report of the Subcommittee.
• Providence has a problem collecting its motor vehicle tax from certain homewoners who choose to register their cars at an address outside of the City, even though they drive the cars and/or garage them in Providence for at least 30 days.  To respond to this problem I prepared and introduced an ordinance to limit the homestead exemption on real estate tax to people who register their cars in Providence. You can read a copy of the ordinance as it was initially approved by the Council by clicking on this linki:  homestead ordinance.pdf .  The final version of the ordinance contains some technical amendments to conform it to the budget; however, the substantive provisions of the ordinance remain the same.  The ordinance is now in effect, and I will be working with the City to help educate people and enhance its enforcement.
• The Education Subcommittee completed its review of the Achievement First mayoral academy charter school application.  You can read the report by clicking on this link: af education subcommittee report final.pdf 
• The Revenue Study Commission's nonprofit subcommitee completed its report.  It forwarded the report to the full Commission.  You can read the subcommittee's report by clicking on this link: nonprofit subcommittee reportt.pdf 

        *   On January 5, 2012, I testified to the Board of Regents concerning Achievement First.  You can read my testimony here: regents speech 1-5-12.pdf   

        *   At the City Council meeting of January 5, 2012, I spoke at greater length concerning Achievement First.  You can read my statement at hte link below:
             1-5-12 achievement first city council.pdf 

        *   On January 9, 2012, the Revenue Study Commission will meet to review a draft report concerning the City's property tax structure.  You can read the                  draft report by clicking on this link: commission report - revised draft - january 6.pdf

        *    At the February 2 meeting of the City Council, I spoke twice about issues related to the City's burden of hosting nonprofit institutions.  First, I spoke
              about the need for greater State aid to reimburse this cost.  I introduced a resolution calling for greater funding of a State aid program.  You can
              read the resolution here: non profit institutions.pdf   You can read my remarks by clicking here: 2-2-12 state aid.pdf   Second, I spoke about 
              the need for the major nonprofits (particularly Lifespan) to be part of the solution themselves.  You can read my remarks by clicking here:
              2-12 nonprofit speech.pdf