Councilors Continue to Chip Away at City Deficit

At Tuesday night's city council meeting, it was reported that administrators have about $1.18 million left to squeeze out of East Providence's finances in order to level this year's fiscal budget.

According to city manager Peter Graczykowski, about $1.3 million dollars was found in a surplus fund. It will be used to help offset the deficit.

Audit results from will be received by Dec. 16, said the manager. Those findings will help guide administrators and council members to make additional savings. A potential 10-year contract extension with United Water is still under negotiation; that agreement could provide a one-time flux in funds.

"I hope they'll do business with us," Graczykowski said.

Councilor William Conley Jr. said a in a high deductible health care plan on the school department side should have been ironed out since it was budgeted for.

"I want to strongly encourage you to get more concrete responses from the school administration," said Conley to the city manager, adding that other municipalities, including Woonsocket, have consolidated health care plans to save millions.

"We're just as baffled as you are," said the manager.

The city manager said he would not be proposing a one-time supplemental tax increase.

Mayor Bruce Rogers proposed additional saving measures including further department condolidations, reducing the amount of managerial staff and conserving Department of Public Works services.