News Team PODCast Reports
Panel passes $8 billion budget on to full Senate
Posted: 6/9/2012 6:01:47 AM
Updated: 6/9/2012 8:14:50 AM
The Senate Finance Committee Friday quickly passed the $8.1 billion state budget on to the full Senate, which takes up the spending plan on Monday.
The committe vote was 8-0, with Senator David Bates (R-Barrington) abstaining, after objecting to a provision that imposes new tolls on the new Sakonnet River bridge that is nearing completion between Tiverton and Portsmouth. The budget also increases taxes on cigarettes, and imposes new taxes on high priced clothing.
The panel also brushed aside testimony from Tiverton pet groomer Ann DuPere, owner of Sakonnet Grooming and Pet Wellness. She said a new, 7% tax on pet grooming services hurts her and other groomers, saying customers could travel five minutes to Massachusetts, where there is no similar tax. She also said that her business would face a double-whammy with the Sakonnet River tolls, reducing business from Portsmouth and the rest of Aquidneck Island.
The Senate has scheduled a meeting on Monday to take up the budget.
More, with WPRO's Steve Klamkin
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