Please Read and Sign Below

Dear Governor Chafee:

The State of RI will take in approximately $8 BILLION (RI Budget Department) this year, yet our elected officials continue to spend more money than they receive. Working Families and Local Small Businesses are required to live within their budget, and we expect the same from our Government.

We the People of Rhode Island can no longer financially support this tax burden. Furthermore, the proposed budget to add a 6% sales tax on currently exempt items such as Hair Salons, Tanning, and Landscapers will be devastating to small businesses and their clientele base in a fragile economy.

RI has an 11.3% unemployment rate (Department of Labor and Training), this coupled with the high tax burden on the Working Class has resulted in RI families losing their jobs, homes, and savings. Businesses, jobs, and family members have left RI because 45 other states provide a lower tax burden for citizens to raise their families (Tax Foundation).

As taxpayers, we demand that the State and Municipal governments of Rhode Island live within their budget, and establish an indefinite tax FREEZE. This is to prevent the increase of any tax or fee on any level as our tax base can no longer bare this burden. It is time for our government to live within its means and share the burden the tax payers have been baring the past couple of years.

Respectfully,

Giovanni Calise

Sponsor

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