RI Assembly Adjourns without Woonsocket Tax

No tax increase for Woonsocket. The bill stalled in the house Wednesday morning, before the general assembly adjourned.

According to State Revenue Director Rosemary Booth Gallogly, the failure to authorize the tax could prompt sharp cuts to services or municipal layoffs in the struggling city.

The Woonsocket city council asked the general assembly to approve a 13-percent supplemental tax to help close a 10-million dollar budget shortfall.

Lawmakers from Woonsocket blocked the tax but on Tuesday said they would support a smaller tax increase. Negotiations with Gov. Lincoln Chafee's administration broke down Wednesday morning.