1. East Providence, Rhode Island
Recommendations by the
Roger Williams University Institute for Public Policy
February 2008
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2. Presentation Agenda Introduction Demographic Information
Budget Trends Information
Recommendations
Conclusion
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3. East Providence, Rhode Island
County: Providence
Established: 1812
Incorporated: 1958
Form of Government
City Manager form of government
Five member city council
The mayor is one of the five councilmen
Slogan: “The Gateway to the East Bay”
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4. Crescent Park Carousel,
Ariel View
East Providence, RI
Crescent Park Carousel,
East Providence, RI
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5. Land and Area City has a total area of 16.6 square miles
13.4 square miles is land
3.2 square miles is water
Villages within East Providence
East Providence Center
Riverside
Rumford
The population density of East Providence is 3,632 persons per square mile of land area
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6. Population In 2000 the city population is 48, 688 people
In 2000 East Providence ranks 5th in population among Rhode Island's 39 cities and towns
As of April 1, 2000, the city population was 48,688
This represented a -3.36% decrease (1,692 persons) from the 1990 population of 50,380
East Providence’s total population fell by 1,692 people
(-3.4%) during the 1990’s. The loss of 4,296 White residents
was partially offset by gains in the Asian & Pacific Islander
(+288) and Black/African American (+252) communities. In
2000, White residents accounted for more than 86 percent of
the local population, while 5 percent were Black/African
American.
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7. Population
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8. Population Growth
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9. Gender Gender Breakdown of Residents Male: 22,629 Female: 26,059
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10. Age Median Age is 39.6 years Age Breakdown in 2000
38,142 or 78.3% of the persons residing in East Providence were 18 years of age or older
36,628 were 21 and over
10,432 were 62 and over
9,203 were 65 and over
2nd largest proportion of elderly residents of any Rhode Island community
30% of the elderly residents live alone
The city has twelve subsidized apartment complexes for the elderly, with a total of 1,393 housing units
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11. Race Total Population of One Race: 46,724
Total Population of two or More Races: 1,964
In 2000, 922 persons of Hispanic origin resided in East Providence
This represented 1.9% of the population. An increase of 77 or 9.1% from the 1980 Hispanic population of 845
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12. Race
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13. Language
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14. Household Data In 2000, there are 20,530 households in East Providence
An average size household is 2.33 persons
12,850 of the total were family households
An average family size household is 2.99 persons
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15. Household Units
On April 1, 2000 the total number of housing units was 21,309
This represented an increase of 501 units from the 20,808 housing units in 1990
779 of the 21,309 housing units are vacant
73 of the vacant units were for seasonal of recreational use
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16. Workforce
Just under 17 percent of the City’s workforce was employed out of state in 2000
Local private sector employment decreased by 200 jobs (-0.9%) between 2002 and 2006
Some of these job losses were offset by notable growth in the Financial Activities sector which increased its workforce by 40.8 percent and the Construction sector which added 160 jobs
Of the 26,394 East Providence residents in the labor force in 2006, an average of 5.3 percent was unemployed
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17. Educational Attainment
In 2000, nearly 24 percent of local residents 25 years and older had a college degree, up slightly from 1990
Approximately 29 percent of East Providence residents did not have a high school diploma in 2000, down from 33 percent in 1990
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18. Education Attainment
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19. Employment Statistics
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20. Income
Based on 20,547 households the estimated median household income in 2005 is $47,600
In 2000, the estimated median household income was $39,108
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21. Household Income
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22. Tax Base In 2006 there were 1,550 total establishments within the City
1,531 were private establishments
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23. Property Tax Residential Real Estate Tax Rate per $1,000 was $16.76
Motor Vehicle Tax was $37.10
Personal Property Tax as $49.17
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24. Household Income
In 1999, East Providence ($39,108) had the fifth lowest median household income value in Rhode Island
This represented a 26 percent increase from its 1989 level, whereas the state median income ($42,090) increased by 31 percent during the same period
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25. Municipal Tax Rates
Tax Rates by class of property for FY2008 were supplied by the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns
Residential Property
Commercial Real Estate
Motor Vehicle
Retail &
Business Personal Property
Tax Rate,
Wholesale
Assessed % of Full Value,
Inventory
Base Year
East Providence (h)
$14.41
100%
2006
$18.37
$37.10
$3.86
$43.23
This community provides a residential homestead exemption
Represents tax rate per thousand of assessed value
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26. FY2008 Budget Submission
The following information was submitted to the League of Cities and Towns
The figures address the General Fund Expenditure Budgets FY2008
Total General Fund: $126,048,934.00
Education: $73,194,231.00
Municipal Services: $52,854,703.00
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27. Municipal Personnel
The following information was submitted by the City of East Providence regarding personnel for FY2008, excluding school positions
Municipal: 215
Police: 106
Fire: 117
Total Municipal Positions: 478
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28. Municipal Business Incentives
Industrial/Commercial Property Tax Incentives
Increased property assessments may be phased in over 5 years for eligible new, expanded or renovated industrial properties costing under $1 million
Length of phase-in for projects over $1 million is determined by the City Council
Terms up to 20 years
Other Programs/ Incentives
Portion of city is a state-designated Enterprise Zone
Business loan program available
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29. Major Development Projects
Completed, Underway or Planned As of November 7, 2007
Phillipsdale Landing 240 loft style residential units
Former Chevron Property 250 luxury apartments,
Coastal Medical New office building
Riverside Plaza Commercial Rehabilitation/New Construction
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30. Major Development Projects
Tockwotton Home 148-unit continuing care facility
Aspen Aerogels Renovation of facility for manufacturing of high-tech insulation material
Dunkin Donuts Bakery Bakery facility for several satellite operations
Bank of America Large call-center facility
Rumford Center: Mixed Use Development
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31. Education Elementary Education Secondary Education
8 elementary schools and
1 early learning center
Organized in grades K-5
Approximately 2,600 students
Secondary Education
2 high performing middle schools
Provides instruction for grades 6-8
Approximately 1,500 students
1 high school
Provides instruction for grades 9-12
Includes a career & technical center that provides 12 different vocational course offerings
Approximately 2,000 students
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32. Education Staff Budget Number of Teachers: 446
Number of Professionals: 735
Budget
School Year Budget: $76,586,618
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33. East Providence Proposed Budget $142,041,391. ’07-’08 Budget Year
General
$50,756,179.00
School
$73,194,231.00
Water
$8,614,000
Wastewtr
$7,378,457
Debt Svc
$2,038,524
Contingency
$60,000
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34. Proposed Appropriations
Council
$46,295
Sr Svcs
$417,750
City Mgr
$312,948
Info Tech
$526,966
Finance
$1,771,079
City Clerk
$604,445
Law
$419,868
Contingency
$60,000
Police
$11,724,731
Fire
$12,093,561
Planning
$716,070
Refuse Disposal
$2,842,392 HR
$476,956
Pub Works
$7,321,705
Canvassing
$257,641
Affirm Action
$79,456
Parks & Rec
$2,601,768
Library
$2,062,580
Debt Svc
$3,711,214
Misc.
$4,771,278
Education
$42,825,086
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35. Proposed Appropriations by descending amounts: Total $95,679,789
Education
$42,825,086
Fire
$12,093,561
Police
$11,724,731
Pub Works
$7,321,705
Misc.
$4,771,278
Debt Svc
$3,711,214
Refuse Disposal
$2,842,392
Parks & Rec
$2,601,768
Library
$2,062,580
Finance
$1,771,079
Planning
$716,070
City Clerk
$604,445
Info Tech
$526,966 HR
$476,956
Law
$419,868
Sr Svcs
$417,750
City Mgr
$312,948
Canvassing
$257,641
Affirm Action
$79,456
Contingency
$60,000
Council
$46,295
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36. East Providence Schools
Budget: $76,586,618.
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37. Recommendations 15 recommendations, grouped into 8 distinct areas:
Consolidation of all non-instructional services
Technology upgrades
Purchasing system streamlining
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38. More Recommendations
Creative uses for the East Bay Educational Collaborative
Explore changing the fiscal year from a November 1st start to a July 1st start
Seek and make use of waivers for relief from unfunded mandates
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39. More Recommendations
Inventory city and school-owned buildings and grounds, with a view to selling or renting properties
Develop options for personnel actions such as early retirement incentives and furlough days
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40. Projected Potential Savings
Health care cost reductions: $1.5 million
School transportation costs: 20% (approx. $400,000.)
Purchasing costs: $500,000.
Interest on Tax Anticipation Notes: $400,000.
Personnel savings: to be determined
Efficiency savings: to be determined
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41. Thank You
The Roger Williams University/Institute for Public Policy Team thanks the people of East Providence, and city and school officials and employees, for the courtesies extended during this study
We encourage full deliberation by the School Committee and the City Council
We wish you well
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