Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


8

Proposed Tax No Fair, Brown U. Students Say

Providence mayor wants to charge them $300 a year

Share

(Newser) – Students at Brown University say they contribute to their community in countless ways, and a proposed $150-per-semester tax shouldn’t be one of them, the AP reports. “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,” said one opposed to the plan from the mayor of Providence, RI.

“Everyone should be doing their part and coming to the table,” Mayor David Cicilline of the 25,000 students at the city’s four private colleges he believes should help foot the bills for services they use. Providence is facing a $17 million deficit, and the student tax would bring in up to $8 million a year. But students—who pay nearly $40,000 a year in tuition—say they’re burdened enough.

Students pass by Soldiers Memorial Gate on the Brown University campus in Providence, RI., on May 12, 2009.
Students pass by Soldiers Memorial Gate on the Brown University campus in Providence, RI., on May 12, 2009.   (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
Heather Lee, president of the Brown University Graduate Student Council, opposes Providence Mayor David Cicilline's proposal to institute a $150-a-semester tax on the city's 25,000 full-time students.
Heather Lee, president of the Brown University Graduate Student Council, opposes Providence Mayor David Cicilline's proposal to institute a $150-a-semester tax on the city's 25,000 full-time students.   (AP Photo)
Providence Mayor David Cicilline wants to slap a $150-per-semester tax on the 25,000 full-time students who attend the four private colleges and universities in his city.
Providence Mayor David Cicilline wants to slap a $150-per-semester tax on the 25,000 full-time students who attend the four private colleges and universities in his city.   (AP Photo)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

We think the indirect and direct benefit of students within the community would outweigh any costs. - Daniel Egan, Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Rhode Island

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.23.09
Books Are Bad for You
11.20.09
The Health-Care Wars Have Just Begun
8 comments
VIEWING:
 
anchower
May 13, 09 4:17 PM CDT
Brown kids are some of the most obnoxious I've ever met. And anyway, what's another $300 to keep the town whose resources you use (and abuse) afloat, especially when it's not you but your rich mommy and daddy who're paying? You can try to pseudointellectualize your way out of it, punks, but I hope Providence socks it to you Dartmouth rejects. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
Robert_Dada
May 13, 09 5:42 PM CDT
Stay tuned for the "Brown Tea Party", sponsored by Lipton. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+1
northeast
May 13, 09 5:56 PM CDT
It's amusing how quickly everyone turns on Brown....bear in mind, you guys will be bitching just as loudly when we're forced to raise taxes on everyone. My only complaint with their statement is that they voiced no dissent when Cicciline was blowing all the money on road contracts and welfare services, thus creating the need to tax...short-sighted much? Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
IN RESPONSE:
Robert_Dada
May 13, 09 6:11 PM CDT
I've never minded paying more taxes; I make plenty of money. It's where my tax dollars go that I sometimes have issue with.
Vote up! Vote down!
+2
IN RESPONSE:
northeast
May 14, 09 11:30 AM CDT
RI has an unemployment rate of about 12% and is ranked the 3rd worst state for business in the nation....this means that the high taxes you would pay in RI don't actually go towards stimulating anything. These students are realizing that a bit too late.
Vote up! Vote down!
0

View all 8 comments »

LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 


Stimulus hasn't helped RI economy, governor says
Providence Journal


US  •  Politics 
TwitterFollow @NewserUS on Twitter

 
taxes • budget • mayor • Rhode Island • colleges and universities • Brown University • budget deficit • Providence • students • David Cicilline

from our news partners

CinemaBlend.com