NEW: Hopkins' Revised Budget Increases Taxes 4%, Suspends Operations at Cranston Senior Center

NEW: Hopkins' Revised Budget Increases Taxes 4%, Suspends Operations at Cranston Senior Center

Cranston Mayor Ken Hopkins announced on Monday that his administration will submit a revised municipal budget that limits the City’s tax levy increase to 4%, following the City Council’s rejection of the Mayor’s original budget proposal.

The new proposed budget level funds Cranston Public Schools and "suspends operations at the Cranston Senior Center," which the Mayor said were "two difficult decisions [that] were necessary to keep the overall tax levy within 4%, but that he did not want to implement."

The Senior Center has always been a source of town pride. 

First Lady Barbara Bush visited the Senior Center on June 13, 1989.


Latest in Budget Battle

In April, the City Council rejected Hopkins’ first proposed budget, which would have raised taxes to close a $10 million deficit, turning back a $352 million budget plan that would have increased the city’s tax levy by 7.4%.

According to Hopkins' administration, the new revised budget "eliminates the City’s League of Cities and Towns dues, eliminates a transcriptionist position in the Cranston Police Department, provides for no administrative raises, and eliminates one position each in  Parks and Recreation and the Highway Department. 

Hopkins added that the police union also "offered some savings opportunities for discussion, but those would need to be finalized as part of  a multi-year agreement similar to other bargaining units."

Hopkins budget also "identifies increased revenue from interest income generated by the Sewer Enterprise Fund and the Ice Rink Enterprise Fund, helping reduce pressure on taxpayers while keeping the levy increase within the 4% Charter limit."

“The budget I introduced on April 15 was a difficult budget for the City and for taxpayers, but it was designed to meet the fiscal challenges we face,” said Hopkins. “Nobody likes to propose a tax increase. I certainly do not. But that proposal would have helped stabilize Cranston’s fiscal picture, protect essential services, and allow the City to meet its obligations responsibly.” 


Hopkins on Schools and Senior Center

The Mayor’s original budget included a proposed tax levy increase above the 4% cap, along with what he said were "difficult choices, including workforce reductions and a realignment of how certain city services are delivered."

“Following the Council’s vote not to amend or approve my budget, my financial team and I went back through it to identify a path that could remain within the 4% levy limit while still allowing the City to operate," said Hopkins. 

On Monday, Hopkins said he found himself proposing a budget that is not his "preferred path."

“It affects city services and requires very difficult tradeoffs. But it complies with the 4% levy limit and provides the City Council with a budget it has the authority to approve," said Hopkins.

According to Hopkins, his "revised 4% budget makes several targeted restorations and reductions in order to preserve core services while remaining within the Charter limit. The revised proposal restores funding for CCAP’s Head Start program, restores funding for the care of trees, restores two electricians and one carpenter in the Building Maintenance Department, and restores the Clean City Coordinator position at a lower pay grade."

Hopkins also addressed school funding - and the senior center. 

“Level funding the schools is not about ignoring their needs,” Hopkins said. “It is about recognizing that the City cannot continue to ask taxpayers to absorb every increase while every other department, employee group, and city service is being asked to make difficult adjustments.  This budget requires shared responsibility.” 

“Suspending operations at the Senior Center is not something I take lightly,” Hopkins said. “The Senior  Center serves residents who deserve dignity, connection, and support. If this budget is adopted, we will work with community partners and other agencies to help connect seniors with available services and resources. But we hope this will not have to be the case.” 

Hopkins said he remains "willing to work with the Council" but  that "any effort to restore additional funding must come with a clear funding source."

“I encourage the City Council to restore funding to the schools and the Senior Center, but restoring those funds means identifying real revenue, and that will likely mean supporting a tax  levy increase above the 4% cap,” he said.