Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian is considering vetoing the City Council’s amended $288 million budget, which moved $607,931 from employee healthcare to channel $997,929.31 into paving and schools Monday.
“That is a discussion that he is having,” said Susan Baker, Avedisian’s press secretary.
The Providence Journal reports Avedisian’s primary objection is with the healthcare funding reduction. On Monday, Avedisian’s Chief of Staff Mark Carruolo said the cut would result in under-funded employee healthcare.
Though the budget itself passed 6-3, with Councilors Steve Merolla, Steven Colantuono, and President Donna Travis voting against, the cut to healthcare passed with one dissenting vote by Colantuono. “So now we don’t really have the amount that healthcare costs for each person…,” Colantuono said Monday.
Travis listed the healthcare cuts among her reasons for ultimately voting against the amended budget.
Should Avedisian veto the budget, he must submit a statement on his reasons to the Council by Friday, according to City Clerk Marie Ahlert. From there, the Council will have until June 15 to meet and vote on the veto, which can be overridden by a 6-3 vote.
The last time Avedisian vetoed a budget was during the 2004-2005 budget season, said Ahlert.
Author: Rob Borkowski
Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at [email protected] with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.
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