2014 -- H 7427

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LC004328

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE RHODE ISLAND CLEAN WATER FINANCE

AGENCY TO POSTPONE THE AWARD OF FUNDING FROM THE MUNICIPAL ROAD

AND BRIDGE REVOLVING FUND UNTIL NOVEMBER 5TH OF 2014

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Tomasso, and Guthrie

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2014

     Referred To: House Finance

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     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Clean Water Finance Agency (Agency) was established

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by the General Assembly in 1989. Its purpose is to administer "certain federal and state programs

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relating to municipal or community waste water and drinking water financial assistance"; and

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     WHEREAS, Passed by the General Assembly as part of the Fiscal Year 2014 budget, the

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municipal road and bridge revolving fund was established to help municipalities make major road

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repairs at lower borrowing costs than those that could be achieved on an open market. This fund

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is administered by the Agency; and

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     WHEREAS, The fund will help provide budget relief for our state's municipalities by

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lowering the annual debt service payments and creating opportunities for the construction trades

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and their suppliers; and

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     WHEREAS, Deadline for applications for these funds was in October of 2013, and the

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Agency will shortly be assigning priorities for the funds. One further requirement of this funding

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by the Agency is for municipalities to immediately implement the prioritized projects; and

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     WHEREAS, Many of our state's municipalities are required by city charter to place any

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bond proposals or funding requested for road and construction projects before the voters for

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approval. This approval would not happen until the fall elections. This time constraint thereby

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eliminates any municipality with this provision from being able to immediately start any project

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and therefore be eligible for this funding; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

 

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Providence Plantations hereby respectfully requests the Rhode Island Clean Water Finance

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Agency to postpone awarding the monies from the municipal road and bridge revolving fund until

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November 5th of 2014, in order to permit those municipalities that require additional time due to

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confines of their city charters to also be eligible for this funding; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Executive Director of the Rhode Island

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Clean Water Finance Agency.

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LC004328

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