Providence Mayor Brett Smiley unveiled his first budget proposal on Tuesday.
The 586-million-dollar total is an increase of about twenty-million dollars over last year's budget.
“When I took office, I took a serious look at every facet of the City’s spending and what I found was clear: our current system was not sustainable,” said Mayor Brett Smiley. “The proposed changes would re-balance the City’s tax rates, refocus the use of federal dollars and prepare us for a possible recession.”
Smiley criticized his predecessor Jorge Elorza's administration for "irresponsibly low tax rates".
He is proposing a residential property tax hike while cutting the commercial rate.
Under the plan the average resident would see a property tax increase of 400 dollars.
(Photo by ALI AL-SAADI/AFP via Getty Images)