Help Could Be On The Way For Weary Residents

Governor Dan McKee delivered the 2023 State of the State address at the Rhode Island State House on Tuesday.

McKee drew a standing ovation when he called for the General Assembly to send a bill to his desk banning "assault-style weapons"'.

But most of the address was fiscal based. The Governor is looking to reduce the state sales tax- already the second highest in the nation.

"We’re ready to change that. Rhode Island’s sales tax was increased during the banking crisis with the promise that it would be reduced when we were back on solid financial ground. That promise was never kept. Now is the time to make it right.

We’re going to propose a fiscally-responsible, incremental reduction of the sales tax. Let’s start by reducing our sales tax to 6.85 percent – approximately $35 million a year of long overdue relief – and if we continue to have discipline in our budgets and get to the same rate as Massachusetts. we would save Rhode Islanders $173 million annually."

The Governor also wants the legislature to apply the brakes on an anticipated increase to the gas tax.

"Rhode Island law requires us to implement a three cent increase on the gas tax starting July 1. The budget I'll propose will stop this increase and provide nearly $25 million of gas tax relief to Rhode Islanders over the next two years."

The Governor conceded something that most homeowners already know and that is that energy bills are too high.

"Let’s give Rhode Islanders a tax rebate for the gross receipts tax on their energy bills this winter. This will result in over $35 million in relief for Rhode Island families and businesses."

The governor also called on the legislature to work with him on housing production and affordability, calling housing one of the most critical issues facing Rhode Island.

Republicans say that the tax relief that the governor is talking about is a drop in the bucket and are proposing broader based tax relief.

The nuts and bolts on how Rhode Island actually gets there is expected tomorrow when the budget for next fiscal year is released.

(Photo Credit: Drazen Zigic iStock )