Tax Rate Cuts Highlight Mayor Baldelli-Hunt’s Proposed 2021 Budget

May 13, 2020

Contact: Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt
baldellihunt@woonsocketri.org; (401) 767-9205

Tax Rate Cuts Highlight Mayor Baldelli-Hunt’s Proposed 2021 Budget

Woonsocket, RI: Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt announced today that her proposed Fiscal Year 2021 budget for Woonsocket features a one percent (1%) reduction in both the residential and commercial property tax rates. The reductions proposed for Fiscal Year 2021 represent the fifth consecutive year that the Mayor’s budget contained property tax rate decreases. Cutting property tax rates were seen by the Mayor to be especially critical for Fiscal Year 2021 because of the economic and social devastation imposed on Woonsocket residents due to COVID-19. The tax rate reductions were achieved primarily through reducing expenditures across City departments and increasing revenues due to recent real estate construction within the City. In her budget message the Mayor lauded the efforts of City workers and first responders in serving and protecting Woonsocket residents and businesses during the pandemic.

“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,” exclaimed Mayor Baldelli-Hunt. The Mayor further emphasized, “Though we reduced expenditures City-wide we will still be able to keep 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 Mayor’s Fiscal Year 2021 budget will be presented via Zoom at a Public Hearing on May 26, 2020 at 7:00 PM.

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