Was Gov. Daniel J. McKee right to commit all of the state’s unspent $1 billion in federal pandemic aid in his proposed fiscal 2023 budget?

PBN Staff

January 28, 2022 9:00 am

GOV. DANIEL J. MCKEE during his State of the State address Tuesday proposed creating a Rhode Island Higher Ed Academy to help Rhode Islanders pursue higher education and training that may not only increase the state’s overall workforce but also put the Ocean State on a path toward long-term economic recovery. AP FILE PHOTO/STEVEN SENNE — GOV. DANIEL J. MCKEE’s fiscal 2023 spending plan commits all of the state’s roughly $1 billion in remaining American Rescue Plan Act pandemic aid. AP FILE PHOTO/STEVEN SENNE

Gov. Daniel J. McKee’s proposed $12.8 billion fiscal 2023 budget commits all of the state’s roughly $1 billion in remaining American Rescue Plan Act pandemic aid. Nearly half of that money, $431 million, is ticketed for one-time spending that would be doled out in the next fiscal year. The rest would be spent over the…