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Mayor Smiley unveils budget with $25 million housing bond, $3,000 rent-relief grants and public-safety investments
Summary
Mayor Smiley presented a proposed municipal budget that would not raise taxes or fines, includes a $25,000,000 housing bond for the November ballot, up to $3,000 in emergency rent-relief grants, two new code-enforcement positions, and expanded public-safety and climate resiliency investments.
Mayor Smiley presented his proposed budget Wednesday evening to the City Council, framing it as a measure to address Providence’s affordability crisis while avoiding tax increases. The proposal funds a $25,000,000 housing bond to appear on the November ballot and establishes an emergency rent-relief program offering grants of up to $3,000 to households in crisis.
The mayor, Mayor Smiley, said the budget was crafted amid rising inflation and reduced federal grant support and emphasized that the proposal “does not raise taxes nor does it increase any fines.” He framed the plan as a package that preserves core services—trash pickup, road repair and public-safety staffing—while investing in housing, climate resiliency and libraries.
Why it matters: The bond and immediate rent-relief are central components of the mayor’s response to high rents and a local housing shortage. The administration also proposes two new code-enforcement…
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