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

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

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

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

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

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

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

is administered by the Agency; and

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

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

and their suppliers; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Providence Plantations hereby respectfully requests the Rhode Island Clean Water Finance

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

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

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

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

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

Clean Water Finance Agency.

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LC004328

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