McKee Proposes $14.2B Rhode Island State Budget for 2025-26

An ongoing gap between expenditures and revenue spells more red ink

Office of Management and Budget Director Brian Daniels talks about the budget as state Administration Director Jonathan Womer listens.
Office of Management and Budget Director Brian Daniels talks about the budget as state Administration Director Jonathan Womer listens.
Ian Donnis / The Public’s Radio
1 min read
Share
Office of Management and Budget Director Brian Daniels talks about the budget as state Administration Director Jonathan Womer listens.
Office of Management and Budget Director Brian Daniels talks about the budget as state Administration Director Jonathan Womer listens.
Ian Donnis / The Public’s Radio
McKee Proposes $14.2B Rhode Island State Budget for 2025-26
Copy

Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee’s latest $14.2 billion budget proposal adds about a quarter-billion dollars from the current spending plan, reflecting the challenge of fueling the government in a state where expenditures continue to outpace revenue.

McKee said his budget, which he unveiled Thursday, would close an approximately $250 million deficit without any broad-based tax increases.“It will not just protect Rhode Island’s progress, it will protect the taxpayers of our state,” McKee said.

The proposal banks on $10 million in revenue from the eventual restart of the RhodeWorks truck-tolling program, following a recent court decision, and predicts that amount will grow to $40 million in fiscal 2026-27.

The spending plan includes investments meant to spark economic growth, increases in education aid, and a proposed ban on new sales of semiautomatic rifles sometimes called assault weapons.

This story was reported by The Public’s Radio. You can read the entire story here.

Fossil fuel companies look to have the case thrown out while AG stands firm
Weekapaug Fire District’s bid to pause proceedings denied as shoreline advocates defend Spring Avenue’s status as a historic public right of way to Quonochontaug Barrier Beach
New rules pave the way for 24 additional retail licenses, with special provisions for social equity applicants and worker-owned dispensaries
Planners and resilience experts say long-term erosion maps have been critical
After a 17-month hiatus, the Rhode Island Fishermen’s Advisory Board is repopulated and ready to review SouthCoast Wind underwater cables plan
A ruling from the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals this week cleared the way for President Trump to re-fire federal employees who had been reinstated to their jobs last month by a lower court