Woonsocket Mayor Proposes 1 Percent Tax Decrease Amid Crisis

WOONSOCKET, RI — Woonsocket Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt has proposed a 1 percent tax cut on residential and commercial rates for the 2021 Fiscal Year despite projections of cratering revenues amid the coronavirus health emergency.

Baldelli-Hunt said in a statement that the cuts are "especially critical for Fiscal Year 2021 because of the economic and social devastation imposed on Woonsocket residents due to COVID-19."

She said said the tax rate proposals were determined primarily through reducing expenditures across city departments and increasing revenues due to recent real estate construction within the city.

"Times are really tough for our residents right now because of COVID-19 and all of our department heads really dug in and worked hard to cut their expenditures in this budget so that we can give our residential and business taxpayers a meaningful 1% tax rate reduction," Mayor Baldelli-Hunt said. "Though we reduced expenditures city-wide we will still be able to kee moving Woonsocket forward by continuing to improve our roads and infrastructure, beautify
our parks and public places, enhance recreation, implement "green" cost savings initiatives, and create an environment that will attract new businesses and help to make our existing businesses more profitable."

The budget will be presented during a public hearing on Zoom March 26 at 7 p.m.