Are games being played? You bet your tax dollars they are.

I requested information regarding the top 10 tangible taxpayers in North Smithfield from town officials on May 30, 2019 but I didn’t receive it until June 18, 2019. I was particularly interested in National Grid’s tax numbers. I had hoped to have the numbers for the June 10, 2019 public hearing on the town budget but that didn’t happen. At the June 10th hearing I expressed my disappointment that the information had not been shared. I naively thought there was still a chance that I might receive it before the Town Council meeting on June 17, 2019 but once again, that didn’t happen either. June 17th was the last opportunity for public comment on the budget. I received the information the next day. The town council will set the budget and the tax rates at tonight’s meeting, but Council President Vadenais has made it clear he will not allow any public comment at the meeting.

I've made similar requests in past years from different administrations and always received the information, either on the spot, or within a day or two. I had to file an Access to Public Records Act (APRA) complaint with the Attorney General in order to get another financial record from the current administration so this delay doesn’t surprise me at all. For the record, I firmly believe the delay in providing the information was intentional.

Link to Top 10 Tangible taxpayers: https://bit.ly/2ICGTJX

#northsmithfield #towncouncil #tax #taxes #nationalgrid #vadenais #apra #grid