EXCLUSIVE: Providence Budget Official Fired Today

EXCLUSIVE: Providence Budget Official Fired Today

One of the officials in charge of controlling spending in Providence was terminated today - after the release of a report showing the city is facing a massive budget deficit.

City Controller John Cimino had been relieved of his position, according to city spokeswoman Melissa Withers.  

Withers said his termination was not part of the layoffs of about a dozen city and school employees that were announced as part of a budget-cutting plan by Mayor Angel Taveras earlier today. She said city personnel policy barred her from discussing the cause for his termination.

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According to the city charter, one of the chief responsibilities of the City Controller is “control over all expenditures to ensure that budget appropriations are not exceeded” and “financial and budget control over each department, office and agency.”

His departure comes the same day as the release of a major city finance report, showing that Providence has a $70 million structural budget deficit in the current year and an even larger $110 million deficit next year.

Cimino, who was earning a salary of $92,077 this year, began working for the city in 1992, under the Buddy Cianci administration.