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RhodyRealEstate ~ Pages 15-17
R.I.’S FIRST WEEKLY SHOPPING GUIDE
January 19-25, 2021 • Volume 66 • Issue 37
At Your Service .....................11 Automart ...............................14 Business Spotlight...................7 ClassiďŹ eds .............................11 Community News .................18 Entertainment ........................19
A BEACON COMMUNICATIONS PUBLICATION
Home Improvement ...... 9 & 10 Job Market ..............................8 Puzzle Page .............................6 Reader Ad Form ......................4 Real Estate ...................... 15-17 Yard Sales..............................19 PRESORT STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID BRIDGEPORT, CT 06602-9644 PERMIT NO. 15
5 Coventry Shoppers Park, Coventry, Rhode Island 02816 • (401)821-2216 • www.rireminder.com
R COOK
NEW YEAR, NEW HOME?
OY &
Attorneys at Law
Edward C. Roy, Jr., Esquire edward_roy@hotmail.com
WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOUR HOME IS WORTH?
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401.702.0156
WWW.RHODETOHOME.COM
CENTRAL COVENTRY FIRE DISTRICT
Get Informed – Your Fire District Needs You! Nearly 10 years ago, the residents of the Central Coventry Fire District spoke loudly about how they wanted their District run and how much they could afford to pay. With a supplemental tax increase of 16% - 20% on the horizon, your District needs to hear from you. Last year the General Assembly passed, and Governor Raimondo signed a bill that changes the way the District is supposed to pay firefighters for overtime. Firefighter activists specifically targeted the residents of the District with this unfunded mandate to undo the tax-saving changes made years prior. According to this law, the District is required to pay overtime to firefighters who are scheduled for duty (even if they away on vacations) above 42 hours. Previously, the District paid overtime only after 53 hours of actual on duty hours, just like most fire organizations in the country. The resulting expense in overtime will cost the District nearly $275,000. Furthermore, the District’s State pension contribution rate has increased over 100% in the last 6 years from 16% to 33%. In dollars, that is from $367,801 in 2015 to an expected $680,599 in 2021. These factors, along with a reduction of rescue runs because of COVID, have created a structural deficit for the District. There are only 2 ways to respond to a structural deficit: 1 – make structural changes, like closure of a station; change the department’s response protocols; reduce service; or, 2 – increase taxes to generate revenue. It is likely that the District will require a supplemental tax increase of between 16%20% this year to cover the structural deficit. The Board will be discussing options at its next meeting, and we urge you to attend. Due to COVID, we have to hold our meetings via Zoom, but these issues will impact all persons in the District.
Log in, call, or email info@ccfdri.com to get informed and participate in the District’s future. Next Zoom meeting: Thursday, January 21, 2021 at 6:00 PM. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85706143179?pwd=NU54bGtOSWpxRlNvelhGNGsvdmRJZz09
Meeting ID: 857 0614 3179 Passcode: 474699 +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
Paid for by Central Coventry Fire District, Fred Gralinski, President
Geralyn M. Cook, Esquire geri_cook@hotmail.com
577 Tiogue Avenue, 2nd Floor Coventry, RI 02816
Phone: 401-823-0488
Fax: 401-823-0486
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