(Providence, RI) -- The Rhode Island House Finance Committee approved what it referred to as a pared-down state budget for the 2021 fiscal year on Wednesday. According to a State House press release, the budget restores cuts that had been proposed by Governor Raimondo, and in some cases temporarily instituted, to municipal aid, including car tax reimbursements. A 275-million-dollar budget gap was plugged with federal coronavirus relief, but without additional federal COVID-19 help, House leaders expect to face "extremely difficult" challenges in next year's budget. The proposal includes asking voters to approve 400-million dollars in bonds in a special election next March. The budget is set to be considered by the full House next Wednesday, which would then pass it on to the Rhode Island Senate.
Photo: Getty Images