The issues: Statewide questions on the ballot
Question 1: AUTHORIZING STATE-OPERATED CASINO GAMING AT NEWPORT GRAND
Shall an act be approved which would authorize the facility known as “Newport Grand” in the city of Newport to add state-operated casino gaming, such as table games, to the types of gambling it offers only and exclusively at the facility located at 150 Admiral Kalbfus Road, Newport?
A vote to “Approve” this question means you wish to approve the act authorizing Newport Grand to add state-operated casino gaming, such as table games, to the types of gambling it offers only and exclusively at its facility located at 150 Admiral Kalbfus Road in the City of Newport in accordance with the provisions of such act.
A vote to “Reject” this question means you do not approve the act authorizing Newport Grand to add state-operated casino gaming, such as table games, to the types of gaming it offers only and exclusively at its facility located at 150 Admiral Kalbfus Road in the City of Newport in accordance with the provisions of such act.
Question 2: AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE – RESTRICTION ON GAMBLING
Approval of the amendment to Section 22 of Article VI of the Rhode Island Constitution set forth below will provide that no change in the location of gambling permitted in a municipality would occur without the further approval of the majority of those electors voting on said proposed location change in a referendum within said municipality:
A vote to “Approve” means that no change in location of gambling permitted in a city or town by approval of a referendum in such city or town on or after November 4, 2014 would occur without the further approval of the majority of those electors voting on said proposed location change in a referendum within said city or town.
A vote to “Reject” means that a change in location of gambling permitted in a city or town would occur without the further approval of the majority of those electors voting on said proposed location change in a referendum within said city or town.
Question 3: CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION – Shall there be a convention to amend or revise the Constitution?
A Constitutional Convention is an assembly of delegates or representatives of the people of the State for the purpose of amending or revising the Rhode Island Constitution. A Constitutional Convention, if held, could propose an entirely new Constitution for adoption or rejection by the State’s electors; it could propose individual amendments to the Constitution; or it could re-write the basic document while presenting what appears to be the most controversial issues to the electors in the form of supplemental amendments, thus allowing individual decisions on each.
If a majority of the State’s electors vote to hold a Constitutional Convention, then it will be the responsibility of the 2015 General Assembly to enact legislation determining the method of election of delegates, setting forth an election schedule, and appropriating funds. The number of delegates shall be equal to the number of members of the House of Representatives and shall be apportioned in the same manner as the members of the House of Representatives. The parameters of a Constitutional Convention would be decided by the General Assembly and the elected delegates to the Convention. The last Constitutional Convention was held in 1986.
A vote to “Approve” means you would like to see a Constitutional Convention called to amend or revise the Constitution.
A vote to “Reject” means that you are opposed to a Constitutional Convention called to amend or revise the Constitution at this time.
Question 4: HIGHER EDUCATION FACILITIES BONDS $125,000,000
Approval of this question will allow the State of Rhode Island to issue general obligation bonds, refunding bonds, and temporary notes in an amount not to exceed one hundred twenty-five million dollars ($125,000,000) to construct a new College of Engineering building and undertake supporting renovations. The new building will anchor the northwest corner of the Engineering Quadrangle on the Kingston Campus and provide contemporary and state-of-the-art instructional and research facilities. As part of this project, outdated engineering buildings will be taken out of service and razed.
Question 5: CREATIVE AND CULTURAL ECONOMY BONDS $35,000,000
(a) Cultural Arts and the Economy Grant Program: $30,000,000
Provides funds for 1:1 matching grants for a new Cultural Arts and the Economy Grant program to be administered by the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts for capital improvement, preservation and renovation projects for public and nonprofit artistic, performance centers and cultural art centers located throughout the State of Rhode Island as follows:
1. Trinity Repertory Company: $4,647,750
2. Rhode Island Philharmonic: $2,390,250
3. Newport Performing
Arts Center: $4,216,800
4. United Theater/Westerly
Land Trust: $2,369,440
5. The Chorus of Westerly:$1,054,200
6. The Stadium Theater
Conservatory in Woonsocket: $2,108,400
7. 2nd Story Theater: $1,054,200
8. AS220: $2,108,400
9. WaterFire Providence: $3,162,960
10. Other funds to be allocated by RISCA: $6,887,960
(b) State Preservation Grants Program: $5,000,000
Providing funds to cities, towns and non-profit organizations to preserve, renovate and improve public and nonprofit historic sites, museums, and cultural art centers located in historic structures in the State of Rhode Island to be administered by the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission.
Question 6: MASS TRANSIT HUB INFRASTRUCTURE BONDS $35,000,000
Approval and issuance of these bonds will provide funds to the Department of Transportation for enhancements and renovations to mass transit hub infrastructure throughout the State of Rhode Island, which is intended to improve access to multiple intermodal sites, key transportation, healthcare, and other locations. The availability of these funds may also provide leverage for possibly securing additional revenue for the mass transit infrastructure projects from federal and private partners.
Question 7: CLEAN WATER, OPEN SPACE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES BONDS $53,000,000
Approval of this question will allow the State of Rhode Island to issue general obligation bonds, refunding bonds, and temporary notes in an amount not to exceed fifty-three million dollars ($53,000,000) for environmental and recreational purposes, to be allotted as follows:
(a) Brownfield
Remediation and Economic
Development: $5,000,000
Provides up to eighty percent (80%) matching grants to public, private, and/or non-profit entities for brownfield remediation projects. Brownfield remediation projects involve the environmental clean-up and reuse of contaminated properties.
(b) Flood Prevention: $3,000,000
To provide grants to public and/or non-profit entities for project design and construction grants for repairing and/or removing dams, restoring and/or improving resiliency of vulnerable coastal habitats, and restoring rivers and stream floodplains.
(c) Farmland Acquisition $3,000,000
Will be used to provide funds to protect the state’s working farms. The Department of Environmental Management will use the funds to purchase farmland in danger of converting to non-agricultural use, then restrict and affordably sell or lease the land to qualified farmers. Funds from sale of the land to farmers will be returned to the program account for re-use in new projects. These funds may also be used for the purchase of development rights to farms by the Agricultural Preservation Commission.
(d) Local Recreation Grants $4,000,000
Provides up to eighty percent (80%) matching grant funds to municipalities to acquire, develop or rehabilitate local recreational facilities to meet the growing needs for active recreational facilities.
(e) Roger Williams Park Zoo $15,000,000
Provides funds for improvements and renovations to the Roger Williams Park Zoo
(f) Roger Williams Park $3,000,000
Provides funds for improvements and renovations to the Roger Williams Park.
(g) Clean Water Finance Agency $20,000,000
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