I’ve written numerous times over the past two years about the horrible fiscal mess David Cicilline (D-RI01) left behind in Providence when he was Mayor, and how he concealed the problem from voters during his 2010 congressional race.
The city has been teetering on the verge of bankruptcy, but a tentative deal just struck with city unions likely will prevent a bankruptcy through union pension concessions and by moving retirees to Medicare:
Under the deal, automatic pension increases would be suspended for a decade, future pensions would be capped and the most generous pension plans would be eliminated. The deal would also move retired city workers ages 65 and older into Medicare.The changes are expected to help the city save $18.5 million next fiscal year….Paul Doughty, head of the local firefighters union, called the agreement “a bitter pill to swallow” but better than bankruptcy….Under the proposal announced Wednesday, all cost-of-living increases would be suspended until fiscal year 2023. Future pension increases would be capped and only some retirees would be eligible.The agreement ends a lawsuit filed by retired police officers and firefighters that attempted to block the city from shifting retirees to Medicare coverage to save money.The city aims to save about $40 million over the next 10 years by moving retirees over the age of 65 to Medicare. Under the agreement the city would agree to pay for some Medicare benefits.
Now that the City is savex, expect Cicilline to try to take credit, as if his lies about City finances have been washed away by his successor’s success.
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