Mayor Rivera delivers FY2024 Budget Address investing in new housing, community center, school buildings, and a more business-friendly city

CENTRAL FALLS, RI (May 8, 2023) – Central Falls Mayor Rivera tonight proposed a $20,449,904 budget for Fiscal Year 2024 that addresses her Administration’s key priorities, from new affordable housing to building the city’s new community center, El Centro.

“It’s no surprise we’ve been recognized on local and national levels for our work over the last year – from our boots-on-the-ground effort to making our city healthier, to creative new housing solutions, to unique opportunities that empower our youth,” said Mayor Rivera during her Budget Address. “This budget not only supports our necessary operations, services, and programs, but it compliments key federal and state dollars and grants we’ve proudly won that bring our beautiful vision for Central Falls.”

Mayor Rivera’s FY2024 balanced budget focuses on ensuring the “Central Falls of today works for every person that lives, works, and visits here. And moreover, that the Central Falls of tomorrow excels our economy and our future generations,” Mayor Rivera said.
 
Highlights from Mayor Rivera’s FY 2024 Budget Address include:

Housing and Community

• Building more affordable housing. After Mayor Rivera’s Housing Summit, she committed to adding 200 new units of housing during her first term as mayor – a bold goal the city is making investment in and progress toward. This summer, new single-family homes on Washington and Hood Street built by local Building Futures students will be completed and sold to city residents, along with nine new townhomes on Chestnut Street that this budget invests in. Central Falls residents will have exclusive access to purchase these homes. The city is also gearing up for the groundbreaking of its 47-unit Broad Street Homes project, 100 units on Roosevelt Avenue, 31 units at the old Broad Street School, the new five-unit Reed Avenue townhouse project, and completing the master plan for the mixed-use Conant Thread mill buildings.
   
• Supporting healthier, safer housing. The city is on track to certify another 200 units of housing to make sure that they are free of lead poisoning, and after winning a new grant that further invests in this work, will be giving residents even more resources and opportunities that support safer, healthier housing.
   
• Launch of Charter Review Commission. It’s been more than a decade since Central Falls thoroughly reviewed its city governance structure to ensure it supports the community’s 21^st century needs. Mayor Rivera announced the launch of a Charter Review Commission this year, with proposed amendments to the Charter to be approved by voters during the special fall election.
   
• Progress on El Centro, the new community center. This budget proudly invests in El Centro, the new one-stop community center for residents, which is well on its way to becoming reality. The project architect is hard at work designing this Broad Street space, with construction starting later this year. At El Centro, residents will easily access a wide-range of services, spearheaded by our Office of Constituent Services and Health. From mental and behavioral health needs, to housing and food security, to senior and youth services, and more.

An Accessible, Affordable, Sustainable Future

• Creation of city’s first Sustainability Officer. This budget invests in the city’s first Sustainability Officer – part of the Central Falls 2023 Climate Action Plan – that works to build a more resilient future for the community.
   
• Continued work to connect families to free internet. The city’s successful campaign to rollout the Affordable Connectivity Program will continue. After successfully connecting more than 70% of eligible households to the internet, this effort is now being replicated in other communities.
   
• New and renovated outdoor spaces. The city will be opening its new basketball court at High Street, renovations to Jenks Park will commence, the new Phillip Street Community Garden will officially open this year, and so will the new beautifully-renovated Garfield Street Park for families to enjoy.
   
• Expanded public transportation accessibility. Efforts are continuing to make Central Falls more accessible and affordable, such as the expansion of the city’s partnership with the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority to continue its successful free starting ride pilot program through this summer, and widening its reach to include the new Pawtucket-Central Falls Transit Center.
   
• Road and sidewalk repairs. This budget invests in important planning and repair work of key roads and sidewalks throughout the city.

A Safer City

• Safety investments. From new layers to the city’s Safer Streets Program, like the rollout of red light cameras and additional speed bumps, to new body cameras for every patrol officer thanks to state and federal funds, to the investment in security cameras in our parks, Central Falls continues taking steps forward that better protect every resident. Crime is already down 25% in 2023, and overall crime and violent crime rates are consistently the lowest they’ve been in decades. Paired with a new fire engine truck thanks to the Federal Delegation’s support, the city is better positioned to support the safety of the community.
   
• Re-launch of the Central Falls Domestic Violence Task Force. This budget invests in the re-launching of the Central Falls Domestic Violence Task Force, taking an important step to prioritize education and outreach around this life-saving topic, including to local middle and high school students.

Youth and Education

• Increased youth engagement opportunities. Thanks to a grant by the Department of Education, Central Falls now has a new citywide afterschool program coordinator for organized out-of-classroom learning, and is advancing summer opportunities that keep youth engaged and safe, like the city’s new Youth Career Empowerment Summer Program that gives students hands-on learning and mentorship in their desired career fields, the nationally-recognized Leading Ladies Initiative which gives unprecedented leadership empowerment to future generations, and continued investment in Central Falls Public Library.
   
• New high school and city-wide school building upgrades. Central Falls will be breaking ground on the highly-anticipated new High School this year, investing in the significant improvements at Calcutt Middle School, and planning for amazing facilities upgrades at all other school buildings. This budget supports the creation and investment in a School Construction Revolving Fund for responsible and planned school construction spending.

Fiscal Responsibility

• Increased shared services and savings. With so many critical services and residents, every dollar counts. This fiscally responsible budget contains strategic, shared services – like continuing to share a joint Planning Commission, a Code Enforcement and Building official with Pawtucket (saving $60,000) and a new decision to share Human Resources with North Providence (saving $30,000).
   
• Recruiting and supporting talent leaders. This budget invests in the leadership and development of city employees, specifically providing an allocation for a key Leadership Rhode Island spot each year. This budget also supports increased stipends to recruit and retain talented, engaged members to city boards.

Business-Friendly

• Tax-friendly for businesses. This budget provides a new $20,000 exemption on tangible property, and includes no increase in the city’s commercial tax rate, making the city friendlier for its local businesses.
   
• Support for small businesses and workforce. This budget continues the investment in the city’s new Small Business and Workforce Coordinator position, who not only connects businesses with key resources and programs, but supports our local workforce by organizing helpful job fairs and engagement with employers.

Events and Engagement

• Community events and opportunities for all residents. Many of the city’s beloved community events will continue, along with new events throughout the year, from Central Falls Restaurant Week, to Salsa Night, to the Food Truck Festival, to the Central Falls Summer Basketball League, to the Youth Kayak Program, to Jazz Nights, and so much more.

Mayor Rivera’s proposed FY2024 budget is subject to approval by the City Council. Her budget speech and proposed FY2024 budget are available on the city’s website (www.centralfallsri.gov).