Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi introduced legislation this week for the state to provide an appropriation of $500,000 to the City of Warwick for municipal services rendered at Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport.

For many years, the Rhode Island Airport Corporation has paid $500,000 to the City of Warwick on an annual basis to offset the cost of services the city provides to the airport such as fire, police and other emergency services. But this year, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) disapproved the payment by the Airport Corporation.

“The City of Warwick relies on this annual funding to defray taxpayer expenses for these services, and I want to make certain the state continues this commitment,” said Speaker Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick). “It is disappointing that the FAA will no longer allow the Airport Corporation to make these payments, but I introduced this legislation to ensure that the state steps in and makes this vital payment.” Speaker’s Shekarchi’s bill (2024 H-8181) is expected to be heard by the House Finance Committee at a hearing on Tuesday, April 23.

The bill is co-sponsored by the other members of the Warwick delegation: Representatives Joseph J. Solomon Jr. (D-Dist. 22, Warwick), Camille Vella-Wilkinson (D-Dist. 21, Warwick), David A. Bennett (D-Dist. 20, Warwick, Cranston), Evan P. Shanley (D-Dist. 24, Warwick, East Greenwich) and Joseph M. McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Warwick, Cranston).