Mayor Smiley unveils budget with $25 million housing bond, $3,000 rent-relief grants and public-safety 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 positions intended to hold landlords accountable and improve housing conditions.

Details and priorities Mayor Smiley said the administration would offer emergency rent-relief grants of up to $3,000 to individuals in crisis and invest in no-cost eviction defense and tenant-education services to help neighbors avoid displacement. He also announced a $25,000,000 housing bond to increase affordable-housing production across neighborhoods, asking residents to “vote yes in November” to support the measure.

On public safety, the mayor said the budget would fully staff the police force, expand training and technology investments such as the real-time crime center, and continue community-based responses. “We have brought violent crime to the lowest level in 30 years,” he said, adding that the city had removed a record number of illegal guns and was continuing efforts to reduce nuisance ATV activity.

Infrastructure, climate and services The proposed budget includes funding for road repairs and utility-accountability positions: the administration said it plans to add two positions to ensure utility companies notify neighborhoods and properly repair streets after work. The mayor cited recent investments—11 miles of roads fixed, more than 650 sidewalks completed and over 5,000 potholes filled—and a citywide replacement of trash and recycling carts.

On climate, the mayor reiterated a commitment to make all city-owned buildings carbon neutral by 2040 and proposed a green revolving fund to finance renewable-energy and decarbonization projects. He cited $14,000,000 invested in parks and green-space renovations in 2025 as part of resiliency efforts.

Education and cultural investments The presentation highlighted education projects and claimed universal pre-K access citywide. The mayor named several school projects under construction and recognized Bailey Elementary’s principal, Alicia Jones, for a Blue Ribbon award. He also announced a proposed cultural festivals fund to support events including the Dominican Festival and said the city had purchased the WaterFire Arts Center to protect that local institution.

What the council did After the presentation the council approved several procedural motions to allow off-docket business, laid items 4–10 on the table and then adjourned. The motions passed on voice votes; the transcript does not record roll-call tallies or the names of the motion makers and seconders.

Context and next steps The mayor repeatedly framed the budget as a response to local needs—housing, public safety, services and climate resilience—and said the proposal closes the gap without raising taxes. The bond would require voter approval in November; other elements such as the rent-relief program and new positions will require council approvals as the budget process continues.