The Core Crisis & The 4% Tax Cap

• The Deficit: Cranston is facing a structural deficit of approximately $10 million. The City General Fund reserve recently fell from 8.2% to 5.3%, drawing sharp warnings from Rhode Island Auditor General David Bergantino.

• The First Rejection: On April 29, 2026, the City Council unanimously rejected Mayor Ken Hopkins’ original $352 million budget plan, which called for a 7.4% tax levy increase to cover the gap. Going above the state-mandated 4% cap would require the council to petition the RI General Assembly.

• The Revised Budget: Mayor Hopkins subsequently submitted a revised plan strictly adhering to the 4% tax levy cap. However, this has triggered heavy pushback due to steep cuts:

  • Complete suspension of operations at the Cranston Senior Center.

  • Level-funding for Cranston Public Schools.

  • Elimination of police transcriptionist and parks positions, and zero administrative raises.

Councilor Frank Ritz's Position

Councilman Ritz (Ward 4) has positioned himself as an advocate for exhausted local corrective actions before taking drastic structural measures or looking outside city hall for help.

1. Opposing a State Budget Commission

When residents and local commentary floated the idea of bringing in a state-appointed budget commission to intervene in Cranston’s messy finances, Ritz joined fellow councilors in firmly rejecting it:

"I believe Cranston should carefully consider every option available to address the City's growing financial challenges, including the possibility of requesting state oversight if conditions continue to deteriorate. However, a state-appointed budget commission is a significant step that would reduce local control over financial decisions, and I do not believe the City has exhausted all local corrective measures at this point."

2. Focus on "In-House" Solutions & Compromise

• Ritz has backed the council’s push for collaborative, line-by-line reallocations rather than accepting the Mayor's slash-and-burn approach to senior services.

• The council recently maneuvered to pull together roughly $2 million in reallocated funds to split between restoring portions of the Senior Center budget and assisting the School Department.

What the Council is Looking at Next (Show Talking Points)

As the final June 1 deadline approaches, the council is pivoting from pure cuts to generating alternative local revenue:

• Fee Increases: Several municipal fee hikes have already been approved to drive immediate cash flow.

• Speed Cameras: Council leadership is floating the introduction of speed enforcement cameras in high-speed school zones (such as Garden City), which could yield an estimated $1 million to $2 million annually.

• Tiered Commercial Taxes: A proposal is being weighed to create a multi-tiered commercial property tax structure, allowing the city to protect small local businesses while leaning slightly more on larger commercial entities.

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