Watch the NEARI/RIFT television spot.

Read the NEARI radio script.

Bad tax cap for public education

     What is frequently referred to as the Paiva-Weed bill, S. 3050 (more accurately R.I. General Law §44-5-2), places a cap on spending for cities and towns.
     Starting this year a municipality can only increase the tax levy by 5.25 percent over last year’s levy. The percentage will decrease each year (5.25%, 5%, 4.75%...etc.) until the increase levy flattens at 4 percent. School committees are similarly limited in what they can request.
     The effects of this law are devastating. Locals at the bargaining table this year are already hearing that there is no money for raises. Even worse is that programs effective in improving student performance, such as reading coaches, and effective support, such as teacher assistants, are being eliminated. Layoffs are sticking, causing class sizes to rise significantly. Under Paiva-Weed (R.I.G.L. §44-5-2), it will only get worse in the coming years.
     The implications are far-reaching. Everyone will feel the impact, including students.
     The layoffs inevitably compelled by this law will lead to increased class size.
     This law has forced cuts in programs proven to help students, such as math and reading coaches.
     Paraprofessional positions are targeted for elimination and those who remain standing will be spread thin.
     Senator Paiva-Weed’s bad law needs fixing. Some legislators have admitted that they did not understand the impact of this bill when they voted for it. 
     Property tax relief and adequately funded education is possible, with changes to the law. Urge your legislators to support replacing the word levy with the word rate (so that tax relief will come without causing drastic cuts in educational programming) and delay implementation of the revised law until a fair educational funding formula is implemented.
     You can email them here using the link at the top of this page.
     Also, call Senator Paiva-Weed both at the State House (222-3310) and at her Middletown law office (846-0120).  Let her know how she’s hurting public education.