Don Carcieri is going to face a great deal of criticism over his ideas, but you won't be reading any here.  I'm looking forward to seeing the full budget, but from what I heard this evening, I'm satisfied with the governor's response to the current deficit and his ideas to reign in future spending.  He is not proposing broad-based tax increases, and he is  pushing consolidation of services between cities and towns. 

     Of course, not everyone feels the same:

"The state doesn't want to raise taxes to bail itself out of its deficit hole, but it is willing to eliminate aid to cities and towns that was designed to lessen Rhode Island's over reliance on local property taxes," said Dan Beardsley, executive director of the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns.

     Dan Beardsley seems to be implying that a reduction in local aid will directly result in an increase in property taxes.  For poorly run cities and towns, this is true.  As Governor Carcieri pointed out, he will push to eliminate local mandates that will free up money to reduce the reduction.  He also pointed out the high level of spending on police and fire, along with high education costs.  The cities and towns Mr. Beardsley represents have the tools, they just need to use them.


http://newsblog.projo.com/2009/01/carcieri-outlin.html#434580#more