Chafee’s Budget: A Commitment to Municipalities
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
A large portion of the Governor's State of the State address focused on cities and towns, which he claims are in "crisis" thanks to massive unfunded pension liabilities and after suffering through cuts in state aid for several years before he took office.
Chafee proposed accelerating the school funding formula, which will generate nearly $40 million in additional education aid for municipalities. He said he would like the make this the "year of the cities and towns."
Cumberland Mayor Dan McKee said he was encouraged to hear the Governor express his commitment to municipalities, but noted that a lot more work needs to be done.
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"I'm happy to have a Governor that is speaking like that, but it would be good to match up the words now," McKee said. "State policies as he has indicated have communities on a financial death march and they're being pushed into insolvent situations, bankruptcy situations."
