Projo Politics: Cumberland

Representative Rene R. Menard was one of only twelve of the 75-member Rhode Island House of Representatives who on April 26 voted against the supplemental budget legislation which was necessary to make up a $168-million-deficit in last year's (FY 2008) state budget.

"My primary reason for voting against the supplemental budget was Article 17,'' said Menard who is seeking reelection to House District 45. "That article made major cuts in state aid that the General Assembly had earlier budgeted for Lincoln, Cumberland, and every other Rhode Island city or town."

Menard said general revenue sharing and reduced reimbursements for lost vehicle excise taxes for Lincoln were cut by a total of $206,131 or 15.4 % of the amount approved by the legislature in last year's budget. "Cumberland suffered an even bigger loss," he added. "The other municipality which I represent as District 45 Representative saw its general revenue sharing and excise tax reimbursements cut by $294,681.

"I couldn't in good conscience go against the aid commitment which I amd my colleagues made to our cities and towns," he said. "Those municipalities were nine months into their budget year when we pulled the rug out from under them. I recognize we needed a supplemental budget to make up the deficit. But the way the General Assembly treated local government by cutting their aid in midstream was not justified and not fair."

Menard said the legislation didn't have the intestinal fortitude to cut state services so they forced every city and town to either raise local taxes or cut services to replace aid which the legislature had eliminated. "One way or the other, Article 17 in the supplemental budget was just passing the buck of a state deficit problem to local taxpayers in every Rhode Island community."

 Tags  House District 45 Rene Menard

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