RI Governor Signs 2022 State Budget

PROVIDENCE, RI — Rhode Island officially has a budget for the new fiscal year. Gov. Dan McKee ceremonially signed the bill Tuesday, surrounded by state leaders.

The $13.1 billion budget received final approval by the General Assembly last week. Notably, it pays back the $120 million borrowed from the state's rainy day fund at the beginning of the pandemic, and continues the phase-out of the state's car tax championed by previous House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello. No broad-based tax hikes were included in this year's budget bill.

"Rhode Island’s economic recovery is in full swing, and this budget gives us the tools to ensure it continues," McKee said. "I am proud to sign a budget that includes historic investments in housing, increased supports for hardworking families through RI Works, criminal justice reform, and crucial COVID-19 recovery funding to help us guarantee that Rhode Island emerges from this pandemic stronger than we went in. This budget represents a collaborative effort that will help Rhode Island meet this moment head on. I thank the Speaker and Senate President for their partnership. Today, we sign the budget, then our work continues."

Other key features of the bill include investments in affordable housing, continued support for the state's COVID-19 response and recovery, investments in child care, funding for body-worn cameras for police officer statewide and more.

"I am immensely proud of this budget, which addresses the important needs in our state, including housing and education, while raising no broad-based taxes," House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi said. "This has been a collaborative effort with the Senate and Governor McKee, and I particularly want to acknowledge the dedication and hard work of the members of the House Finance Committee, who listened to hundreds of hours of public testimony that was incorporated into a budget that is compassionate, responsible and fulfills the obligations we’ve made to the people of Rhode Island."

Senate President Dominick Ruggerio echoed the speaker's sentiment, saying the budget "reflects investments in many important Senate priorities."

"It’s a budget that ensures Rhode Island is moving forward, and I’m very grateful to Speaker Shekarchi, Governor McKee and especially the members of the Senate Finance Committee for all the hard work that went into creating this budget," Ruggerio said.