The Providence City Council is looking into nearly $85,000 in retroactive pay raises given to high-ranking police officers in the department, along with  $22,000 spent on winter uniforms.  The retroactive pay raises were given to nonunion employees and were approved by David Cicilline.  The uniforms, which were only ordered for high-ranking officers, were labeled an "emergency".  Any expenditures over $5,000 must be put out to bid, but "emergency" expenditures don't need to fulfill this requirement.  By the way, the winter uniforms were ordered in September.  So, there is a very real possibility that these winter uniforms were ordered on an 85 degree day, months before they were necessary.  That doesn't look like an emergency to me, that looks like someone breaking the rules.

     As for the pay increases, what was David Cicilline thinking?  As a Providence tax payer, I fully expect to have my taxes raised this year.  After all, that's the Cicilline way.  When the City is facing large reductions in state aid, cuts through out city government, and the likelihood of a tax increase, how can you justify handing out retroactive raises that are not required?  I'm glad to see the council is reviewing these expenditures, and I'm looking forward to reading the results.


http://www.projo.com/ri/providence/content/PROVIDENCE_POLICE_SPENDING_01-12-09_9VCTN9A_v26.3909161.html