[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6330855,"mediaKeyId","2313451-730cab9d5d8f1e9f92c51a0e71a430a2","parentId",2313451,"title","Committee approves 10-year tax agreement with Providence Water Supply Board","audioSeconds",333,"startMs",1633000,"endMs",1966000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2313451-730cab9d5d8f1e9f92c51a0e71a430a2&start=1633&end=1966","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2313451-730cab9d5d8f1e9f92c51a0e71a430a2/thumbnail_1633000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6330855/Providence-City/Providence-County/Rhode-Island/Committee-approves-10-year-tax-agreement-with-Providence-Water-Supply-Board","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6330855-401874d8c3edbe9578ea236baafd5d77/orig.mp4?Expires=1775710010&Signature=Cu4S7hTbYj6hTwHLBosf3-6C3q14wvS2b4O3Xxy9XTDc8xdyYvLlVNlD1FQGrlLCEk8VoJ3mJReBcrWul9TpAH7ECQm3VDRrKmHBl5-GkpVrHMQooD96N9Hc0FkIxbSsZv3jQeBBlBntCuhmkbcnyPV670UKMHd3AIVem-DXsxihHLI5Zj8YQk1rqkBatAuYN0tYvaWVF5es8Emc8l13YVGn03obA1d1YovDaqmB47PmmW~uJRcPm9VDYuDsbqhHO7WLCqEgKbUr7SKABV1YLdsQcrlX~V-a74fsmGXLcP4o6iR9fRi2Bucq7gjDPZXaXX1ZKrNBGkgwwzzwH4bR3Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Providence City Council RI","date","2025-02-11T00:00:00Z","article","The Providence Committee on Finance voted to approve a 10‑year tax agreement between the city and the Providence Water Supply Board, the city-run water utility, after receiving a presentation on how the agreement would set an initial valuation base and the effect on annual tax payments.

City staff and the water board representative told the committee the proposed agreement would begin from a valuation base of $18,600,000 and allow an annual increase capped at 4 percent, unless changed by the state legislature. Using the board’s figures, the committee heard the commercial tax amount under the agreement for FY 2025 would start near $402,000 compared with an estimated $462,007.98 if assessed under 2020 valuations — a difference of about $60,000 in the first year of the new schedule.

The board’s presenter said the valuation of the properties under the 2023 evaluation is about $22,200,000 and that the new agreement effectively preserves a lower starting valuation for the term of the contract. Committee members were told that newly acquired properties and new improvements to the properties covered by the agreement would not be taxed under the terms of this document and that the 4 percent cap limits annual increases for the duration of the agreement.

Councilor Sanchez moved approval of the resolution and the motion was seconded; the clerk recorded the item as approved. Committee members asked for and received clarification that one property moving into the agreement is tax‑exempt and that the agreement is intended to stabilize the city’s tax receipts from the listed properties over the contract term.

The committee marked the materials submitted by the water board as an exhibit for the record and closed discussion after the vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Providence Committee on Finance-Tuesday, February 11, 2025-5:30 PM","oneSentenceSummary","The Providence Committee on Finance voted to approve a 10‑year tax agreement between the city and the Providence Water Supply Board that sets a lowered initial valuation and caps annual tax increases at 4 percent.","taxTitle","Providence City, Providence County, Rhode Island","taxId",3637,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6330846,"City officials report improved vendor payment process and outline school construction timelines, funding and risks",192,2838000,3030000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2313451-730cab9d5d8f1e9f92c51a0e71a430a2&start=2838&end=3030","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2313451-730cab9d5d8f1e9f92c51a0e71a430a2/thumbnail_2838000.jpg","/articles/6330846/Providence-City/Providence-County/Rhode-Island/City-officials-report-improved-vendor-payment-process-and-outline-school-construction-timelines-funding-and-risks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6330846-9a6780c0eb82e2cda763a35e11b76e08/orig.mp4?Expires=1775710010&Signature=gjzZKPDDGL2Vlw9FZTHkJGWVKyW7-NLQqM4b1uYwCv01pZLuZKbdUdjO5Jbe4bv8qLUuisvhpsG4-GSSj1FtTmRwkHvcGFQYEFzKhsad5pI1O96G27C9upsHMWuIgqarDCUlo~PlqBP48hPgivpqYZ9wQ8E0a11wKSizBF9Oa6W68jYNsSn1xeln4pGz2luc4oWLBdQ-zgelVL8w3nDu7v86pEprXPxIGWnj~2vFc6H40ESNKp~kiu-s8ouyUCO9C18JLlydDNf3dbjkaZwVkwQX0yKlsYjgbls0Foq8cy3Blf~nOoywXXtvZBAgEbDbqUjcwGI6XkUiGvuX5xIiNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City officials gave the Committee on Finance an update on school construction payments, project timelines and funding sources, saying recent process changes have cleared a backlog of approved invoices and improved cash‑flow oversight while warning the committee about timing risks tied to bonding and reimbursements.

Courtney Hawkins, operating officer in the mayor’s office, and John Arzemanian, director of the Department of Public Property, described moving construction financial management into the city finance office and assigning Sarah, Crystal and Larry to weekly invoice reviews. Officials said the city now has a process to submit bond‑fund payments more efficiently and that, as of the presentation, “everything that we have that's been approved has been paid.” They also said many vendors previously failed to submit timely payment applications and that the city has provided technical assistance and workshops to improve vendor billing.

Officials told the committee the city missed an earlier opportunity to draw down a $60,000,000 authorization under a prior administration but that they expect to pursue available borrowing through existing authorities (including a previously authorized $140,000,000 bond tranche and a recently approved $400,000,000 bond ballot measure). City staff said state reimbursement for school construction ranges from about 80 to 91 percent, depending on project approval timing and available bonus funding.

Committee members pressed staff on whether delayed payments had caused project delays or claims. Staff said selectively chosen contractors were able to carry projects through the payment issues and that no contractor claims had been filed to date. Officials acknowledged some projects experienced schedule movement compared with projections created earlier but emphasized current work to “true up” timelines with vendors and to meet the district’s delivery target of students occupying new buildings in September 2026.

The briefing covered the city’s multi‑phase school construction program, including phases 1–4, and described how the district’s decisions on facility siting and programing have affected schedules. Officials described an $8,000,000 school construction revolving fund administered by the city as a side account to cover urgent capital needs and then submit them for state reimbursement so the fund can revolve.

Committee discussion also addressed energy‑related expectations tied to state (RIDE) bonus incentives. Staff said an anticipated offset of the city’s local match through projected energy savings is unlikely to be guaranteed, noting that new electric systems can increase electric bills because of the addition of cooling systems and other loads; staff recommended coordination with the city’s energy administrator, David Reggio, to pursue efficiency and metering strategies.

Members asked about a specific design change for the Frank Sposiano schools: staff explained a change order that added roughly $24,000 for an all‑electric energy model and about $129,000 for site planning and relocation work tied to moving a building across the street from the original site. Staff said the relocation required re‑submission to planning and set the schedule back by a few months.

Officials said they will continue weekly monitoring of invoices and bring updated expenditure reports and bonding timing to the committee in future meetings.","City officials told the Finance Committee they have centralized school construction cash management in the finance office, cleared a backlog of approved invoices and set weekly reviews to prevent future payment delays while outlining schedule and funding risks for multi‑phase school projects.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6330850,"Committee approves $382,087 change order for Munasquotucket River Greenway construction",153,2044000,2197000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2313451-730cab9d5d8f1e9f92c51a0e71a430a2&start=2044&end=2197","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2313451-730cab9d5d8f1e9f92c51a0e71a430a2/thumbnail_2044000.jpg","/articles/6330850/Providence-City/Providence-County/Rhode-Island/Committee-approves-382087-change-order-for-Munasquotucket-River-Greenway-construction","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6330850-be560cc5101119581a169f323b94f31d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775710010&Signature=R8Qe9CtOCLBNagHo9pjz74jA5w97aJzGsLAbFlLN9pk7W4XLG5ScnZ67KAXqI49eCFMl4aUP4ZrGQTTgdh6sXBlknLsJfoLvCreqJmW9C9MpDNhD3gvy-zsxmTsjmt~gff5vqusqM8j8Ar0jlHfaQHRxDsv2KWSA9rLdioAtGxdqHHpJcKjiEkJ1SvXCx6kmfOxDYmHSTUi55B-a5w5MvwTJlBOi0U8-y996sy5TgdINPj8ah6aYhlQ61DG8H~Igx9ykTb5DtwLcfjElH8gKDdNI~JSBRJUpNvX8LCMQ~e0IUejsojaezIy7a7tsB3BBjjPbVQqRvW5ZydNZG-oE8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Providence Committee on Finance approved a contract amendment that adds $382,087.25 in change orders for construction administration and field services on the Munasquotucket River Greenway project.

City staff and the project team told the committee the large number of change orders stemmed from unexpected conflicts with existing Rhode Island energy utilities and buried infrastructure discovered during excavation. Project leads said an unmarked water main was encountered despite DigSafe processes and that multiple adjustments to green infrastructure and traffic/vehicle movements required on‑the‑ground design and administration.

Project staff said the scope of the change includes extended day‑to‑day field administration by the contractor‑administrator, Bowman, and on‑site services by Right Hand Solutions (project administrator Robert Herrera, lead landscape architect Marcy Whitten) to coordinate subs, implement design changes and keep construction moving. Staff told the committee the construction completion target moved to September 2025 because of the cumulative delays and the winter shutdown.

Committee members asked about funding. Project staff stated the additional cost is covered entirely from the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) allocation for the project and does not require shifting other projects’ funding. Staff also explained that change orders of this type typically fall within construction contingencies and that the city maintains a contingency guideline (roughly 10 percent) for unforeseen site conditions.

A motion to approve the change order was made and seconded; the committee approved the amendment by voice vote.","The Finance Committee approved a change order of $382,087.25 to extend construction administration and on‑site coordination services for the Munasquotucket River Greenway project, citing unforeseen underground utility conflicts and an unmarked water main that have delayed the project and expanded field administration needs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee approves 10-year tax agreement with Providence Water Supply Board

City officials report improved vendor payment process and outline school construction timelines, funding and risks

Committee approves $382,087 change order for Munasquotucket River Greenway construction