Cranston Councilman Calls Hopkins’ Proposal a “Spite Budget”

Cranston Councilman Calls Hopkins’ Proposal a “Spite Budget”

Citywide Cranston City Councilman Christopher Edward Buonanno calls the revised budget plan released by Cranston Mayor Ken Hopkins a “spite budget."

The Hopkins budget released on Monday proposes a 4% tax increase and includes cuts such as shutting down the city’s senior center.

Buonanno said, “At the April 29, 2026, I spoke of my suggestions to the administration as to how to help the current budget situation. I stated that the financial team should not only focus on cuts, but should also focus on ways to raise revenue from a source other than property taxes. I suggested a multi-tier property tax structure with different rates for owner-occupied residential, residential, mixed-use, commercial, and industrial. I suggested doubling down on the economic development office, creating a competent, robust, and thriving office laser-focused on bringing more responsible commercial development to our city to broaden our tax base."

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"Also, at the meeting, I stated that I would absolutely not support a budget that closed the senior center or reduced the already insufficient increase in funding to our already at-risk school system. I asked the administration to bring us something with balance and equity: A budget that was not extreme, and spread the sacrifices over all city departments, not just a select few," he added, but did not provide specific cuts in his statement.

“The administration has given up on its responsibility to lead. Despite seeing this fiscal crisis coming as early as last August, as Director Moretti stated, they withheld the situation from the Council until January, when the Auditor General sent us a letter. Now, literally with only hours remaining, they have abdicated their duty to find a solution and simply thrown the problem into our laps, expecting us to clean up a mess they created,” he added.

“For years, Cranston has been known for its superior school system, tremendous and nationally recognized and renowned Senior Center, superb city services, and superior first responders. This budget cuts out the heart of what makes Cranston one of the best communities in the country. I am appalled that these ideas were even considered, let alone proposed,” said Buonanno.