Rhode Island
Should rich Rhode Islanders pay higher taxes? Here’s what’s being proposed, and why
Supporter of Mass. millionaires tax says why it would work in RI
Farnitano called the tax hike a “resounding, unqualified success” and said it had not sent Bay State millionaires and billionaires packing.
PROVIDENCE − Rhode Island AFL-CIO President Patrick Crowley on Tuesday kicked off this year’s campaign to raise state income taxes on the top 1% of earners wearing an “Eat the Rich” T-shirt.
“You know they say that we have to have the tax policy we have because it benefits job creators,” Crowley told a coalition of groups gathered at the State House in support of the tax hike. “We say we can’t solve tomorrow’s problems with yesterday’s tax policy.”
Raising taxes on the wealthy has been a goal of Rhode Island progressives and unions at least since the state’s top tax rate was lowered in 2010.
But the idea has been a political non-starter for a series of governors and General Assembly leaders, including the current officeholders.
Post-pandemic federal aid and budget surpluses have reduced the impetus for the increased revenue that new higher taxes would bring, but the state’s fiscal picture could change quickly if there is an economic downturn or Republicans in Washington make deep cuts in Medicaid. The federal government splits the cost of Medicaid coverage with the states, and a reduction in federal funding would make states pony up more or cancel health insurance for some portion of residents.
Under those tougher scenarios, the tax plan the Revenue for Rhode Islanders coalition is pushing − a 3% surcharge on income above $625,000 − may become more politically appealing.
Advocates estimate that the tax increase would generate $190 million in annual revenue.
What about Massachusetts?
Rhode Island progressives believe their case for raising taxes on the rich has been bolstered by Massachusetts voters passing the “Fair Share” tax increase − a 4% surcharge on income over $1 million − in 2022.
Massachusetts’ higher income taxes make it less likely that wealthy residents will move across the border for tax reasons and, tax-the-rich advocates say, the Bay State’s experience with a millionaires tax is encouraging.
The Economic Progress Institute releases a policy paper Tuesday arguing that tax data shows millionaires are less likely to move than lower-income residents, and that when they do move, taxes are not usually the reason.
“There’s no evidence we’ve seen of a tax flight from Massachusetts or anywhere else, and the revenue impact is significant,” Economic Progress Institute research director Alan Krinsky said.
Andrew Farnitano, communications director for the group what campaigned for the Massachusetts millionaires tax, called the tax hike a “resounding, unqualified success” and said it had not sent Bay State millionaires and billionaires packing.
He offered as evidence that advocates had advertised that the tax would generate $2 billion per year, and in the first full year of collections Massachusetts took in $2.4 billion.
“They said the money will not show up, because multimillionaires will flee the state en masse rather than pay a new tax. And they were flat-out wrong,” Farnitano said.
In opposing a tax hike on the rich, Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee last year said he hoped millionaires would move to Rhode Island to get away from the tax hike in Massachusetts.
How many people would pay more?
Revenue for Rhode Islanders estimates that 5,700 of Rhode Island’s 500,000 tax filers would pay more under the surcharge plan the group supports.
The tax increase is spelled out in legislation − H5473 and S329 − from Rep. Karen Alzate, D-Pawtucket, and Sen. Melissa Murray, D-Woonsocket, but would likely be folded into the state budget if passed. It is part of the slate of bills backed by the House progressive bloc and Rhode Island Working Families Party.
Business groups, including the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, have vehemently opposed an income tax increase for many years and are expected to fight this proposed 3% surcharge.
What would it be used for?
Alzate’s and Murray’s bills don’t specify what the new revenue generated by higher taxes would be used for, but the Revenue for Rhode Islanders coalition has a long wish list, including education, school meals and public transit.
“We could fund housing. We could fund badly needed mental health supports in our schools,” Murray said. “We could fund free school lunch for all, and breakfast. We could fund child care so parents could go back to work. We could help lift children out of poverty and so much more.”
Rhode Island officials are refusing to turn over private medical records for trans youth to the Trump administration.
The Ocean State’s Office of Child Advocate has filed an emergency motion in federal court to quash a demand from the Justice Department seeking medical information for minors treated for gender dysphoria.
“The medical records of these children contain private information that is protected under the law, which exists to safeguard confidentiality, privacy, and the dignity of every patient,” said Child Advocate Katelyn Medeiros in a statement reported by the Rhode Island Current.
“When those protections are disregarded — especially for children — it is not merely a violation of the law but a breach of trust that could have profound lifelong consequences.”
Related: Rhode Island hockey mass shooting leaves family shattered and shooter’s identity in the spotlight
In this case, the Justice Department is seeking to enforce a court order from a federal judge in Texas that requests records from Rhode Island Hospital. That order is part of an investigation into possible violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act involving puberty blockers and hormone therapy.
The federal agency said Rhode Island must release “the identities and complete medical histories of every minor patient who received medical care for gender dysphoria at RI Hospital over more than five years.”
Rhode Island officials said the release of information on patients there would not only violate medical privacy but could expose a marginalized population to humiliation at the hands of the government.
Related: Texas AG Ken Paxton won’t leave trans people alone, again requests data from out of state
Related: ‘Retaliation’: Texas AG Paxton demands PFLAG provide names, addresses of trans members
“In other words, for a population of children that already lacks trust in the legal and medical systems, DOJ now seeks unfettered access to everything from their Social Security numbers and addresses to the intimate details about their state of mind, their sexual orientation and gender identity, and the course of treatment they chose with their physician and custodians,” attorneys wrote in a court filing.
The demand is part of a broader effort by the Justice Department under President Donald Trump to obtain private medical information on patients receiving gender-affirming care nationwide.
Under since-fired Attorney General Pam Bondi, the Justice Department had demanded private medical information on patients under the age of 19 through a series of broad subpoenas issued last year.
Courts in some states have blocked that pursuit. A federal judge in Maryland denied access in January to records from Children’s National Hospital. Similarly, a federal court in Pennsylvania stopped the administration from obtaining patient records from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in November.
Mother’s Day is just days away, and one local zoo is offering all moms some free fun.
Free Mother’s Day Admission Details
Roger Williams Park Zoo has announced free admission for all moms, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers on Sunday, May 10, when accompanied by a child.
Which means if you still haven’t made plans with your mom, why not a trip to the zoo?
There’s plenty happening at Roger Williams Park Zoo these days—new animals like the penguins and capybara plus the immersive bug exhibit—and the weather is expected to be pleasant and mild.
READ MORE: Giant Bug Exhibit Now Open at Roger Williams Park Zoo
The annual offering is a favorite way for people to spend the holiday, but it’s not the only upcoming event at Providence’s popular zoo.
Upcoming Events at Roger Williams Park Zoo
On Sunday, May 17, the zoo is hosting a STEM LEGO workshop hosted by Christine “Tacos” Blandino from FOX’s LEGO Masters Season 3. The event, for LEGO fans aged 6+, takes place during several 90-minute windows throughout the day and helps builders grow their LEGO skills.
READ MORE: Remember When Massive Brick-Made Animal Sculptures Filled Capron Park Zoo?
Then Thursday, May 21 sees the 21+ crowd take over the zoo with the return of Whiskey & More For Wildlife from 5:30–7:30 p.m. This annual event offers ticket holders five curated tastings, a Wee Glencairn tasting glass, appetizers, soft drinks, and animal encounters along with access to an exclusive silent auction featuring rare spirits and unique experiences. Proceeds benefit bison care and conservation efforts.
Sounds like May is going to be a can’t-miss month at Roger Williams Park Zoo.
20 Things To See at Roger Williams Park (Other Than the Zoo)
There are over 427 acres of beautiful landscaping, historical buildings and family friendly spaces at Roger Williams Park in Providence. Gifted to the city in 1872 by the last descendant of Roger Williams, Betsey Williams, the park has become primarily known for its amazing zoo. But throughout this historic district listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, there are plenty of other stunning things to see.
Gallery Credit: Nancy Hall
Explore Massive Insect Exhibit at Roger Williams Park Zoo
Roger Williams Park Zoo is bringing larger-than-life insects to Providence with a new Bug’s World experience opening this April.
Get a sneak peak at these insane insects before they open to the public.
Gallery Credit: Nancy Hall
Baby Red Pandas Born At Roger Williams Park Zoo In Providence
Gallery Credit: Michaela Johnson
The Real Mansions of Rhode Island revealed
Here’s a brief look at 10 of the more notable mansions found in the Ocean State, listed in order of their values as assessed by their municipality.
Journal Staff
The McKee administration is offering up to $200 to any state employee who incurred any additional expense in filing, and then having to refile, their taxes because of a series of botched paychecks and W-2s.
How did we get here? On April 15, also known as Tax Day, Patrick Crowley, the president of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, called on the McKee administration to reimburse public service workers who had to refile their taxes because of a series of several payroll glitches.
On May 4, Thomas Verdi, the acting director of the Department of Administration, sent state workers a “Dear Colleagues” email that said:
“We recognize that the W-2 corrections released by the state may have resulted in additional tax preparation costs for individuals who had to amend their tax returns.
“To assist with this expense, the state will provide a one-time reimbursement for up to $200 for tax preparation and filing costs an employee incurred to amend a federal and/or state tax return directly related to the W-2Cs issued by the State of Rhode Island.”
The latest in a litany of financial issues with state’s payroll system
The Department of Administration has not yet responded to Journal inquiries about the projected cost to the state.
But the list of well-publicized problems goes on and on.
They have included underpayments, overpayments, botched W-2s that misidentified their employer as the “Rhode Island Umbrella Company,” and a problem with Health Savings Account contributions where the employer and employee contributions were reported separately, instead of combined and will require new W-2Cs to go out to impacted employees. according to Department of Administration spokeswoman Karen Greco.
And about $220,000 in union dues inadvertently wound up in employee paychecks instead of being withheld from them.
Most, though not all, of the glitches were attributed to problems with the state’s buggy new $99 million finance and accounting system known as Enterprise Resource Planning, or ERP, which launched in late 2025.
A Department of Administration spokeswoman told The Journal on April 15 that “significant progress has been made to ensure employees who required paycheck corrections are made whole,” but Crowley said his members “shouldn’t pay for mistakes they didn’t make.”
“That is why we are calling on the state of Rhode Island to reimburse state workers who have incurred expenses for refiling their taxes or may have to do so before problems are corrected.”
Olivia DaRocha, a spokeswoman for Gov. Dan McKee, said at that time that the administration was looking at potential ways to support impacted employees.
The email from Verdi to state workers included an “affidavit” for state workers to sign to verify how much, if anything, additional they had to pay to amend their tax returns.
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