Mattiello Says Raimondo's Taxes Are Dead, URI Governance and 195 Commission Changes a Go
Mattiello Says Raimondo's Taxes Are Dead, URI Governance and 195 Commission Changes a Go
"We’ve heard that the public does not like the new taxes, that they're onerous, bad for business, so they will not be in the budget," Mattiello told GoLocal News Editor Kate Nagle in an interview at the Rhode Island State House. "So most if not all of them, in fact, will not be in the budget."
Mattiello said that the House Fiscal Year 2020 budget will likely be presented next week by Wednesday -- and Thursday at the latest.
WATCH VIDEO ABOVE
URI Governance
Further, Mattiello said that he strongly supports the late emerging new governance structure for the University of Rhode Island calling for the establishment of a Board of Trustees. The new structure separates URI from the existing structure that also oversees the Community College of Rhode Island and Rhode Island College. GoLocalProv.com was first to report on the legislation -- read more here.
"I certainly hope it moves -- I absolutely believe it has potential [this session]," said Mattiello. "It’s a research university, it’s a flagship university, and I want to make sure they’re competitive. So I worked with the leadership at the University and came up with a bill that provides them with the flexibility and [a] local board of trustees that treats the flagship research university differently than RIC and CCRI. [URI] should be allowed to grow and flourish as an independent university that competes right now nationally and almost worldwide."
"I always believe you assist excellence and everything will fall into place," added Mattiello. "It’s not the most complicated issue — it’s not a scientific study — we’ll make a judgment. In my mind there is a certain urgency. There is no need not to move forward in a manner that helps our flagship research university. If that’s the direction we’re going to move in we should do it sooner rather than later."
Taxes on Chopping Block
As GoLocalProv.com reported in January, "Raimondo unveiled a controversial budget that proposes increasing state spending by more than $300 million in the next fiscal year -- and slaps tax increases and fees on everyone from employers to beachgoers to Netflix viewers."
And while the Raimondo administration backed off the unpopular beach fee increase proposal, her "nickle and diming" approach of multiple business taxes was blasted by the editorial staff of the Wall Street Journal.
House Finance Chair Marvin Abney had previously warned on LIVE that the "candy store is not open" after numbers reported following the May revenue estimating conference show roughly $27 million more in anticipated tax revenue for this year and next -- and Mattiello confirmed Thursday that based on the state's financial situation, the House will not be placing a number of Raimondo's proposed revenue drivers in the budget.
Car Tax -- and 195 Oversight
Mattiello said the scheduled car tax phase-out will not be changed. “The current law, with a six-year phase-out—[and] three years left — we’re going to stay on schedule and we’re going to make sure its funded.”
Mattiello also spoke to Senate President Dominick Ruggerio introduction of the Rhode Island Special Economic Development District Enabling Act (S-0803), which would bypass the City of Providence in matters of planning and design on land in the I-195 Redevelopment District.
"I believe it’s important to the state of Rhode Island," said Mattiello of the legislation. "We have to become more efficient — our regulatory process is much too burdensome. So I actually commend the Senate President putting in this legislation and we’re going to give it a really good look. I can’t guarantee [it] right now but just like the URI legislation, I’d absolutely like to see it get done because it moves the state forward in a better direction."