Warwick has made headlines for its services and safety. WalletHub, a personal finance site, conducted a study analyzing key aspects of 150 cities across the nation. Financial stability, education, health, safety, economy, infrastructure and
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Warwick has made headlines for its services and safety.
WalletHub, a personal finance site, conducted a study analyzing key aspects of 150 cities across the nation. Financial stability, education, health, safety, economy, infrastructure and pollution were the examined categories. In the “Overall City Services” rank, Warwick placed at 28. Providence made the overall list as well, placing at 80.
Warwick appeared in the rankings for lowest number of violent crimes, coming in second place. The rate, 1.02 violent crimes per 1,000 residents, is nearly 20 times lower than that of Detroit’s, which came to 19.82 per 1,000 residents.
Warwick also placed second in cities with the lowest percentage of residents living in poverty.
"I am very proud that Warwick has been named as one of the best-run cities in the country by WalletHub," Mayor Scott Avedisian said in a release.
"I'm equally as happy that we were named the best city with the lowest number of violent crimes, which is no doubt a reflection of the dedicated men and women working for our police department. My administration is deeply committed to ensuring that Warwick residents are proud to call this city their home. From our sound fiscal management, affordable housing, superior city services, 39 miles of coastline and booming travel and tourism industry, Warwick is truly a vibrant and picturesque place to call home."
Lauren Slocum, president of the Central Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce, echoed the mayor’s sentiments in a statement.
“The Central Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce has been based in Warwick for over four decades. Warwick is one of our primary member service areas. Mayor Avedisian, his talented team, city leaders and the committed men and women on the police and fire departments all work together to ensure Warwick is a safe and vibrant community,” Slocum wrote. “One that allows businesses an exceptional environment in which to operate, residents an outstanding quality of life, and guests an exciting and safe place to visit. We are proud to be a part of the community that WalledHub ranked as one of the Best-Run Cities.”
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Bob_Cushman
I have to question any organization's metrics used in developing its national wide city ranking of best city when they rank Providence as number 80. Providence is on the verge of bankruptcy due primarily to its billions in unfunded liabilities.
Warwick is far from the fiscal cliff as Providence but its unfunded liabilities continue to mount and the effect on the city and educational budgets has been felt over the last decade and Warwick's financial condition is getting worse.
In the most recent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report produced by Parmell Poirier & Associates, LLP, dated April 1, 2016 they summarized the “Financial Highlights” as follows:
“At the close of the fiscal year, the liabilities of the City of Warwick exceeded its assets by $298,263,772”. The City’s total net position decreased by $333.2 million during fiscal 2015, due primarily to an increase in the City’s liabilities attributed to the full net pension liability for each of the City’s 6 pension plans.
“Over time, increases or decreases in the City’s net position are indicators of whether its FINANCIAL HEALTH is improving or deteriorating, respectively”.
The following table taken from a decade of city financial reports display changes in Warwick’s Net Position. Clearly the trend is not good. The ability of city leaders to hide these facts by not including these liabilities in the city books has finally come to an end with new accounting standards being imposed by the Government Accounting Standards Boards (GASB) that require city leaders to disclose the real liability numbers in the annual financial reports. Take a look at how dramatic a shift occurred reflected in the table below from 2014 to 2015.
The net effect of this increase is that more and more tax dollars are being allocated to pay for this debt then for city and educational services. A review of the city and school budget over that last decade proves this point. And it is only going to get worse as the unfunded liabilities continue to grow. That was the point of my December 2014 presentation before the City Council and sadly almost 2 years later, nothing has changed to combat the problem.
Year Assets Liability Total Net Position
2006 $451,018,002 $310,173,288 $140,844,714
2007 $453,215,005 $323,626,492 $129,588,513
2008 $448,783,583 $338,846,050 $109,937,533
2009 $435,356,400 $344,429,551 $90,926,849
2010 $430,514,151 $351,265,067 $79,249,084
2011 $436,992,698 $375,548,627 $61,444,071
2012 $430,481,871 $377,200,984 $53,280,887
2013 $427,219,132 $380,661,078 $46,912,971
2014 $422,487,917 $387,829,891 $34,942,636
2015 $458,539,465 $770,260,326 -$298,263,772
Thursday, September 1, 2016 Report this
Thecaptain
Bob,
By posting this information aren't you doing the job of the finance director Ms. Wilkinson aka "Warwick's Giant Panda-er"? I wonder what her position is on all of this since she is a self proclaimed expert and your just a "hobbiest". Wasn't she and empty head Travis assigned to review pension costs some time ago? They are probably still looking at the spread sheets wondering what the numbers mean. This article is a joke. You continue to be accurate and correct on the presentation of your facts and figures but the dopes running the city are too busy giving it away to their special interests. This reminds me of when Cicillini told everyone that Providence was being left in great fiscal shape. Yet he is still re-elected and not in jail. What a joke. By the way, whoever did the rankings clearly hasn't driven thru Crappanaug.
Friday, September 2, 2016 Report this
richardcorrente
Dear Bob Cushman,
Thanks for bringing the facts to light.
Warwick taxpayers have a right to know how their Mayor is spending their tax money.
Your annual assets/liability breakdown shows the direction Avedisian has the City headed and my plan is to reverse that trend. Warwick has lost 5,800 taxpayers and 4,666 businesses in the last ten years (according to the U.S. Census and the Secretary of States office). I have a plan to attract more taxpayers and businesses. The added tax revenue Warwick receives from them will decrease taxes for the rest of us.
My report showed it from the taxpayers point of view. Yours shows the financial side. Your report shows that in the last ten years Warwick's assets grew by less than 1%!!! We could get a better rate of return in a passbook savings account! Our liabilities skyrocketed by over 248%!!! It's official. Warwick is flat broke and Avedisian is certainly the reason why. If we keep him as Mayor Warwick will fall into bankruptcy just like Central Falls, Detroit and the Coventry Fire Department. His solution is to just keep raising taxes. Obviously, that hasn't worked for 16 years in a row! I think we can agree that enough is enough and it is time for a change. We can't let him do to Warwick what he did as Chairman of the Board at RIPTA! (Rhode Island Public Transit Authority) EVERY DAY RIPTA lost $8,056 in assets. EVERY DAY RIPTA had their liabilities increase by $43,605 and EVERY DAY RIPTA lost $1,400 in income. That's EVERY DAY! That is why Avedisian earned an "F" at RIPTA. and another "F" as Mayor of Warwick.
Again Bob, thanks for presenting the facts so clearly.
Richard Corrente
Endorsed Democrat for Mayor
Tuesday, September 6, 2016 Report this
CrickeeRaven
The prior comment is by a political candidate who has repeatedly claimed a loss of more than 4,600 businesses from Warwick based on a fraudulent comparison between US Census numbers and data from the RI Secretary of State, which use different methods of counting businesses in Warwick.
According to the US Census, Warwick had 8,410 firms listed in 2007. A more accurate comparison of data from the same source, the US Census for 2012, showed 8,299 firms, or 111 fewer. Scroll down to Businesses at the following link and view the "all firms" statistic.
http://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045215/4474300
This candidate clearly assumes that voters in Warwick will not look into the facts for themselves. Please join the rest of us who know the truth and will not vote for this candidate.
Tuesday, September 6, 2016 Report this
richardcorrente
Dear Reader,
My numbers came from the U.S. Census and the R.I. Secretary of States office. They were independently verified by the Beacon before they allowed me to be publish them.
CrickeeRaven is lying, again. We don't even know who he/she is. Odd fake name though, don't you think?
Enjoy Autumn everyone.
Richard Corrente
Endorsed Democrat for Mayor
Tuesday, September 6, 2016 Report this
patientman
The services are good. But a city that raises taxes every year is not well run. You increase revenue through growth, not raising tax rates. Don't be confused.
Tuesday, September 6, 2016 Report this
richardcorrente
Dear Patientman,
Well put.
Simply put.
Thank you Patientman.
Richard Corrente
Endorsed Democrat for Mayor
Wednesday, September 7, 2016 Report this