Mayor Proposes 2026 Budget to City Council
$205,100,061 budget is a 4% tax levy increase
In a presentation to the City Council late last month, Mayor Bob DaSilva described his budget request for the 2026 operation of city services. The proposed fiscal 2026 budget recommends General Fund expenditures of $205,100,061, a $10,095,903 increase (4.92%) over last year's appropriation. Of the total General Fund expenditure increase, city operating expenditures increased by $5,988,865 (6.26%) and funding of the school department rose by $4,107,038 (3.97%).
“The proposed increases of $5.9M are primarily related to the following,” DaSilva said.
“This proposed budget will enable the city to continue to provide high levels of public safety, public works, social, recreational and educational services for our students and residents. A primary factor of this budget increase is the local pension fund contributions. This administration is committed to meeting the Annual Required Contribution (ARC) of municipal and public safety employees with the goal of making them fully funded and self-sustained. The fund is currently in critical status per state law.”
DaSilva stressed that his budget “continues to support our public schools by increasing our share of funding to the School Department budget by an additional 3.8 percent. During my tenure, the City of East Providence has gone out to bond for approximately $339 million for a new high school, new middle school and major renovations to Waddington Elementary School. Additionally, the City of East Providence, from 2007 through 2012, had invested $24 million in other capital improvements to our public schools,” said DaSilva.
In an effort to further realize taxpayer savings, the Administration has aggressively obtained and currently manages over $38 million in state, federal, and philanthropic grant dollars. “It is critical for residents to understand that just about all of the improvements to parks, recreation, police and fire equipment, have been done with little to no local tax dollars. Over $30M in city projects have been funded mostly with some form of grant funding,” said Council President Bob Rodericks.
The $10.1M increase to the proposed budget over last year's appropriation is being funded by the following projected revenue streams:
“Because of the extraordinary budget pressures that the City is facing in the next fiscal year, including increased debt service and pension contributions, pursuant to the City of East Providence Charter Section 5-14 D and Rhode Island General Laws Title 44 Chapter 5 2(d), I am asking the City Council to support this 4 percent tax levy increase. While the Administration was able to keep prior tax increases below 3.5% in the previous budget years, the fiscal realities driven by voter approved school improvement bonds, rising health care costs, and pension contributions have left the city with no palatable options if we are to continue providing quality services to our residents.
We expect tax-base growth of approximately $49.8 million to add approximately $1 million of new tax revenue in the coming fiscal year which will off-set the fiscal impact to. individual taxpayers. For this reason, we anticipate the actual rate increase to our taxpayers will be less than the overall 4 percent levy increase.
The City's finance structure remains stable and strong, and able to sustain the extraordinary fiscal challenges presented in this budget. This budget allows us to continue our efforts to provide quality services for our residents and maintain a high level of public safety. It also allows us to progress in our goal of providing our students outstanding education opportunities.”
“I think we are relatively satisfied, I know I am, I’ll speak for me, that it’s a good budget,” said Rodericks. “Those who think we could make major cuts, I would invite to come forward and suggest where. I don’t see where we can. If anything, we’re hearing from some in the public who would like more services.”
“Decreases would set the city back 15 to 20 years,” said Council vice-president Frank Rego. “unfortunately, we can’t do Back to the Future and get in a time machine. If we were to go bare bones, it would cause a lack of services people don’t want,” added Rego. We’re not going to cut libraries or major recreation.”
Councilman Frank Fogarty also expressed initial support for the proposed budget. Fogarty did add one somewhat unrelated caveat: “I would like to see the city take over some state roads like Pawtucket Avenue, etc.” Fogarty emphasized that residents are unhappy with the progress of fixing major roads in East Providence.
City Zoning Ordinance Changes
On Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025 the East Providence City Council unanimously approved several modifications to the City’s Zoning Ordinance that were required to conform to land use bills approved by the RI General Assembly in 2024. These changes were made in order to promote housing opportunities.
The most notable of these changes for East Providence residents is the adoption of new zoning regulations that allow for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU’s). These units are accessory to existing dwelling units and may be located either completely inside an existing home, attached to an existing home, or may be part of a separate structure. Per state law, ADU’s are not required to be limited to family members. Short term rentals of these units are prohibited.
“I am very pleased that the East Providence City Council supported and unanimously passed the zoning modifications that were proposed and recommended by our Planning Department,” Mayor Bob DaSilva said. “The ordinance brought us into compliance with state law, but the most important aspect of the ordinance was allowing ADU’s on residential properties.”
State law does not require a minimum lot size for ADU’s that are entirely within the footprint of an existing residential structure, or that are used by family members with disabilities. However, the law permits a detached ADU on lots of 20,000 square feet or greater as a matter of right. One of the major differences between the state law and the approved local ordinance is that a minimum lot size of only 5,000 square feet is required for construction of a detached unit. In a dense community like East Providence, this opens up this option for more homeowners.
“The City’s ordinance originally proposed a minimum lot size of 7,500 square feet to build a detached ADU, but I am grateful to the entire East Providence City Council under the leadership of President Bob Rodericks and Vice President Frank Rego had the foresight and vision to see the benefits of reducing the size to 5,000 square feet, creating more opportunities for the residents of East Providence to have accessible and affordable housing stock,” DaSilva added.
“With this 5,000-square-foot zoning ordinance, it helps assure that older generations of residents can maintain their homes and live in the city they cherish,” Council Vice President Frank Rego said. “It also helps bring in new generations of residents to the city to ensure the city continues to prosper in the same way it always has,” Rego added.
Currently, Rhode Island’s housing crisis is burdening local residents and is negatively impacting the economy. In East Providence, 50 percent of renters are considered “cost burdened”, and the state as a whole is last in housing construction per capita. The City of East Providence’s new zoning modifications will now help create opportunities to add housing stock with minimal neighborhood impact, benefiting both owners and renters of various age groups.
ADU’s must still meet all other relevant zoning, building and fire codes. For questions related to whether an ADU is possible on your property, please contact the City’s Zoning Division at 401-435-7722 ext 1 or the City’s Building Inspection Division at 401-435-7722.
West Nile Virus hits EP
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) have confirmed additional detections of West Nile Virus (WNV) in the state. In a press release, the agencies said, “The virus was found in mosquito samples collected by DEM in East Providence on August 25 and tested by the Rhode Island State Health Laboratories.”
The other samples collected statewide showed no signs of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus, Jamestown Canyon Virus (JCV), or additional WNV. Check RIDOH’s arboviral surveillance data webpage for updated weekly test results.
Rhode Island’s risk level for WNV is now high statewide.
WNV is the main mosquito-borne disease in the US. While most people with WNV don’t get sick, about one in five people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms. There are no vaccines to prevent or medications to treat WNV in people.
For more information about WNV, visit www.health.ri.gov/wnv. To learn ways to prevent mosquito bites and the diseases carried by mosquitoes, please visit www.health.ri.gov/mosquito. For mosquito control info, visit www.dem.ri.gov/mosquito.
City Honors late World War II Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient
The City of East Providence honored the late Avelino “Chappy” Rose with a street dedication ceremony on Saturday, September 27, 2025. Avelino Rose who is affectionately known as “Chappy” was born on March 21, 1924 in the City of East Providence and was the eldest of four children born to Jose DaRosa of the island of Fogo and Annie Brito Rose of the island of Brava (both part of the Cabo Verde archipelago).
“In life, Chappy was the heart of his community and contributed to the well-being of our city residents, specifically those living in the area of Carlton Avenue,” Mayor Bob DaSilva said. “We are honored to be able to recognize him with the naming of this street, but even more so, I am blessed and grateful to have had the opportunity to spend time with him and let him know that this was going to happen before he left us.” “I want to thank the city council for making this opportunity to acknowledge and remember the life and legacy of Avelino “Chappy” Rose a reality,” DaSilva added.
In 1942, at just 18 years old, Chappy enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving as a corporal in the 1883rd Aviation Engineer Battalion, an all-black unit attached to the 10th Air Force in the China-Burma-India Theater during World War II. Known as the “trailblazers”, these soldiers carved roads through some of the most treacherous terrain of the war, an effort recognized by historians as one of the most complex and courageous undertakings of the Allied campaign.
For his service, he was awarded the Purple Heart, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with Bronze Battle Star. He later served as Commander of the China-Burma-India Mini State Basha, RI Veterans Association (2003–2009).
"The City Council had the high honor of recognizing Chappy Rose as the true patriot he was. It was a joy when the Mayor and I visited him in his home recently,” Council President Bob Rodericks said. “I am so glad that he was well aware of the love this community has for him."
After returning home from the war, Chappy married Alice Fontes, first settling in Fox Point, Providence, but Chappy’s intentions were always to return to his roots of East Providence. With the blessing and support of his mother, he built a home on Carlton Avenue, the very land he was born and raised, which was originally owned by his maternal grandmother, Mary Santos. In 1958, Chappy and Alice moved into the home he built with his own hands and together they raised five children (Billy, Lois, Jeffery, Joey and Elizabeth).
Chappy’s devotion to the Cape Verdean community continues to be on full display today, where he was known as a “jack of all trades”. A pillar of the Cape Verdean Progressive Center, Chappy volunteered countless hours as Building Chair, shaping the physical and spiritual heart of the Cape Verdean (CV) Club, through his hands-on work with renovations to the front bar and construction of the Founders Hall.
Chappy also was the first Black/Cape Verdean Processing Sheriff in Rhode Island and the first Black/Cape Verdean Waterfront Superintendent for John J. Orr & Sons. Chappy was a war hero, a trailblazer on the docks, and a visionary son of immigrant parents. He was a man ahead of his time—fiercely proud of his heritage, deeply rooted in his neighborhood, and committed to lifting others through hard work, humility, and love.
For all of those reasons and more it is with great honor that the City of East Providence celebrates Avelino “Chappy” Rose’s life with a street dedication ceremony to celebrate his legacy and achievements.
Kent Heights Recreation Complex Design at National Conference
Last month, Public Works Director Dan Borges presented on the transformation of Kent Heights Park at the 2025 National Recreation and Park Association Conference in Orlando, FL. “This effort highlighted the City’s commitment to creating safe, sustainable, and accessible spaces. The project improved a previously capped landfill by adding athletic courts, multi-use fields, an ADA accessible playground, walking paths, and a dog park. The project demonstrates how challenges can be turned into opportunities to deliver long-lasting community benefits. Consistent and smart planning is key to maintaining strong city infrastructure. From parks to utilities, every investment matters and makes a difference,” Borges said in his presentation.
Rumford Lions to hold Seventh Annual Harvest Dinner
The Rumford Lions Seventh Annual Harvest Dinner will be held from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Sunday, November 2, 2025 at the Santa Maria Club, 846 Broadway, East Providence.
The popular dinner menu will begin at 5:00 PM with minestrone soup, followed by the main course of roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, rolls, butter and coffee. This will be topped off with apple crisp for desert. A cash bar will also be available for diners.
The public is again invited to join us this year. We have seating for just 200 diners. While we offer tickets at the door, once the 200 seats are sold, we cannot admit any more guests.
The cost of the dinner is $22 per adult and $10 per child under 10 years old. “Where else can you get a meal like this at this price without having to leave a tip?” said Peter Barilla. There will also be a raffle table at the meal location.
“If you have joined us for this dinner in years past, you already know how this is high quality, great tasting fare. It is a meal not to be missed,” Barilla added.
The net proceeds of the dinner will be used to support community needs and projects in East Providence, donations to the Lions Children’s Cancer Fund and the RI Lions Sight Foundation and the EP Scholarship Program.
For advance tickets, please call Bill Simpson at 401-438-0623, Bill Kelly at 401-714-1287 or Peter Barilla 401-258-4971.
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