Senate committee OKs FY2010 budget

IF THE SENATE SIGNS OFF on the House budget proposal for the 2010 fiscal year today, the measure will head to Gov. Carcieri. The new fiscal year starts Wednesday. /
IF THE SENATE SIGNS OFF on the House budget proposal for the 2010 fiscal year today, the measure will head to Gov. Carcieri. The new fiscal year starts Wednesday. /

PROVIDENCE — The Senate Finance Committee yesterday unanimously approved the $7.76 billion 2010 state budget plan that the House of Representatives passed earlier in the day.

The full Senate is expected to vote on the budget later today. The chamber is scheduled to meet at 4 p.m.

The budget closes a projected $586.6 million deficit for the 2010 fiscal year, which starts Wednesday, by ending preferential tax treatment of long-term capital gains, slashing departmental budgets and ending general revenue sharing with cities and towns, among other changes.

If the Senate approves the tax-and-spending plan, it will be sent to Gov. Donald L. Carcieri, who will have to decide whether to veto it.

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Although Carcieri has criticized the budget crafted by Democratic legislative leaders, he has not explicitly threatened to veto it. Carcieri told a reporter late yesterday he was pleased that House lawmakers had not frozen the alternative flat income tax, public radio station WRNI reported.

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