Crafting a productive State Budget means taking a critical look at both spending and revenue.
Government at all levels must be focused, efficient, and deliver quality services at an affordable cost.
why change?
- Rhode Island has the 4th highest tax burden (as % of income) in the country
- Rhode Island has the third worst climate for business in the nation according to CNBC and the Small Business Climate Index.
- Until this year, when the General Assembly followed the Governor’s lead, the State Legislature has consistently spent more than the state was taking in.
what needs to be done?
- Continue to rein in spending.
- Reform tax policy to make taxes fair, competitive, balanced, and efficient.
- Get local government spending under control.
- Balance the influence of Special Interests with the Public Interest
what you can do
- call your state representative and senator and tell them to hold the line on tax increases
- get involved in a local taxpayer advocacy group
- receive action bulletins from TransformRI
learn more
In his State of the State Address and, again, in the introduction of the FY2009 State Budget, Governor Donald L. Carcieri outlined the essential components of budget reform.
- Text of Governor Carcieri's State of the State Address
- Governor Carcieri’s remarks for the introduction of his FY2009 Budget
- Additionally, the Governor convened a Tax Policy Workgroup to create a long-term strategic tax plan for the state. Here is a press release about the creation of the group and a link to the membership list of the Tax Policy Workgroup.
In an address to Rhode Island on January 7, 2009 Governor Carcieri outlined his response to the current fiscal crisis in the form of an FY2009 Supplemental Budget request.
- Text of the Governor’s January 7th speech.
- The proposed FY2009 Supplemental Budget.
- Frequently asked questions of the FY2009 Supplemental Budget.
