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
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.

The Israeli military said its forces killed Khamenei. The Iranian government confirmed the supreme leader’s death and announced 40 days of mourning.
Iranians and others across the Middle East awoke Sunday to a region in turmoil following the killing of Iran’s supreme leader in U.S. and Israeli air strikes
The U.S. and Israel launched an attack on Saturday against Iran as part of a major military campaign intended to topple the Islamic regime, President Trump said.
After weeks of escalating tensions and a major U.S. military buildup in the region, the U.S. and Israel have launched strikes against Iran with the goal of toppling the regime
The Blizzard of ‘26 showed us some of Rhode Island at its best … and not so hot

Advocates cite progress, but also hurdles, as housing prices and rents continue to climb