Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Providence RI mayor wants to tax students


The mayor of Providence wants to slap a $150-per-semester tax on the 25,000 full-time students at Brown University and three other private colleges in the city, saying they use resources and should help ease the burden on struggling taxpayers.

Mayor David Cicilline (sis-ah-LEEN-ee) said the fee would raise between $6 million and $8 million a year for the city, which is facing a $17 million deficit.

If enacted, it would apparently be the first time a U.S. city has directly taxed students just for being enrolled.

The proposal is still in its early stages. But it has riled some students, who say it would unfairly saddle them with the city's financial woes and overlook their volunteer work and other contributions, including money spent in restaurants, bars and stores.

"We want to support the city as best we can, but financially is not really what we can afford to give," said Heather Lee, president of the Brown Graduate Student Council. "We're more able to provide labor, we're more able to apply the things that we're learning in the classroom, than we are to write a $300 check."

Cities often look for revenue from universities to compensate for their tax-exempt status, and many schools already make voluntary payments to local governments. Providence's four private schools — Brown, Providence College, Johnson & Wales University and the Rhode Island School of Design — agreed in 2003 to pay the city nearly $50 million over 20 years.


This is so lame - students buy all sorts of stuff in providence, pay sales tax. The mayor is clueless.

2 comments:

Brian Connors said...

I have to disagree Dr. D. The city has over 51% tax exempt land. Students spend 9 months a year living in the city, and use city resources while doing so. I have no problem with taking on another 200 bucks a kid to their 30,000 tuition - if the school can riddle them with fees, why can't the city they live in get one fee out of them??

Hope things are well at The Rock! - MPA, Class of 00!

Dude said...

Wow ! 51% tax exempt ? Ok, I have changed my mind. tax those rich kids. I guess I just have a problem with some of the solutions other communities have come up with, because of the lack of tax revenue. there really is not easy way of getting cash strapped municipalities to get more money -

hey ! keep in touch ! what is your email? please contact me at
markrdaniels@gmail.com

best wishes Brian ! :) mark