Sasse "The Money Man" Says RI Budget Should Be Less Confrontational This Year

Sasse "The Money Man" Says RI Budget Should Be Less Confrontational This Year

Gary Sasse, the former director of Administration to the state of Rhode Island says the new numbers from the revenue estimating conference that were issued last week will help to take some of the pressure of legislators and Governor Gina Raimondo in this, an election year.

Revenues exceeded budgeted numbers by about $130 million combined for the 2018 and 2019 fiscal years.

Sasse appears weekly on GoLocal LIVE's Business Monday with GoLocal's CEO Josh Fenton.

In a discussion about Providence Public Schools, Sasse condemned the endless failure of this and past generations for their inability to find solutions to improve Providence's public schools. Last Friday, an incident blew up between Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza and Providence Teacher's Union head Maribeth Calabro her members were not welcome at his "All In" conference of education.

“[The Mayor] called me yesterday or the day before -- he said if he were me, he wouldn't have his people go, because of the community, and that there will be people of color. He said we don't build relationships with people of color. He actually referenced the two students who were quoted at the last all-in summit that they said they can't form relationships with teachers -- I've met with those students,” said Maribeth Calabro, President of the Union in a phone interview on Friday with GoLocal.

Sasse did say he believes Providence School Superintendent Chris Maher is working hard to make changes and improve the system.