Budget Commission Tables Trash Fee Hike

The Woosocket Budget Commission tabled a vote Friday on an apparently unpopular plan to raise $1 million annually by doubling trash fees from $96 to $192 per household.

Citizens and members of the Woonsocket City Council had already voiced passioned opposition Monday night to the fee hike, part of the Budget Commission's 5-year-plan to address the city's recurring deficits. 

Friday morning, citizens, many of the same people from Monday's crowd, showed up in person to repeat their message to the Budget Commission.

Roland Michaud criticized the Commission members for using the trash fee hike as a loophole to place more burdens on home-owner taxpayers, who are already hit twice by the vehicle tax and property tax. "We come to meeting after meeting and you continue to redirect the bill wherever you can find a loophole," Michaud said.

"We can't afford any increase," said Richard Fagnant. "I'm not going to lose my house. I'm going to fight to the death."

Lorraine Corey, a landlord and editor of MyWoonsocket.com, lauded the 20 people who showed for the Commission's morning meeting to reinforce their message from Monday night. "For an 11 a.m. meeting this is amazing," Corey said.

"We can not do it anymore," Corey said, referencing the recently passed yet administratively stalled supplemental tax, increases in sewer and water rates and vehicle taxes. Also, she said, the city's charter doesn't provide for fees to generate revenue for anything besides services.

Corey said the school department is not bearing a fair share of the city's burden. "That's the golden cow that no one wants to talk about," Corey said.

Earlier last week, City Finance Director Thomas Bruce commented on the Budget Commission's move this summer to add add $4.4 million to the school department budget with no revenue to back it up, listing it among the reasons for Moody's recent downgrade of Woonsocket's credit rating. 

"I have a cottage that I'm losing," said Estelle Bubble, also a landlord, repeating her message that her tenants aren't paying her, adding to her financial burden as taxes and fees are increasing.

"I don't have it," said Lisa Paradise. "Do you want to hold us upside-down and shake us?"

The Commission tabled the trash fee hike discussion until its next meeting, Monday, June 24, 3 p.m..

The Budget Commission also voted to advance $12,799,650 in state aid from the months of April, May and June 2014, which is applicable only to the school department. 

The commission also approved authorizing Mayor Leo Fontaine to issue up to $12 million in tax anticipation notes, (TANs) to ease the city's cash flow problem. Early this month, finance department officials informed the Budget Commission that without a series of creative accounting measures, the city would be short $2,476,172 on the June 29 payroll.