NEW: Chafee To Sign Budget Into Law
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Governor Chafee will sign into law the 2012 fiscal year budget at a 1:45 press conference Thursday.
Chafee will be joined by House Speaker Gordon Fox, Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed, House Finance Committee Chairman Helio Melo, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Daniel DaPonte, and House and Senate Finance Committee members.
The $7.7 billion budget includes a slight expansion of the sales tax, a freeze on longevity bonuses and an increase in co-payments for RIte Care users.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTChafee’s original proposal included a $165 million sales tax expansion, but the budget extends to the tax to only a select few items (digtal downloads, over-the-counter drugs and sightseeing tours) that are expected to generate $17 million in increased revenue.