PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The General Assembly-approved $8.2 billion state budget for July 1 does not give Providence all of the money it requested -- including enough cash to wipe out the rest of a $110-million deficit that has plagued Mayor Angel Taveras since taking office in 2011.
The Taveras administration asked state officials to increase this year's aid for Providence by $5 million via a supplemental budget. It also asked for an additional $5 million for the fiscal year that begins Monday.
Neither was fully awarded.
Administration accountants are still confirming numbers, but believe Providence received about $1.3 million less than its request for this fiscal year and less than it wanted for the coming year. How much less was unclear late Friday.
"While I understand that state legislators sought to balance competing priorities amid a challenging fiscal environment, I am disappointed that they did not include more support for Providence and Rhode Island's other cities and towns," Mayor Angel Taveras said in a statement Friday.
He is meeting with his finance team and the City Council to discuss "our options moving forward."
City Councilman David Salvatore, who leads the council's Ways and Means Committee, said Friday that it is too early to talk about the consequences of not receiving all the money.
"These are relatively small amounts when you are managing a $663 million budget," he said. "I am confident we can manage this."
This item was originally posted at 5:58 p.m. and updated at 7:21 p.m.