01:00 AM EST on Thursday, February 26, 2004

Municipalities: Tipping fees for cities and towns at the landfill would be frozen at $32 per ton under the governor's budget. Legislation had called for it to be increased to $38.46 per ton. This freeze would save the communities $2.7 million.

People with mental illness: The governor proposes to cut $1.2 million from the Division of Mental Health Services at the Department of Human Services. Director Hayward says much of the savings will come from a lower rate paid to the private Mobile Treatment Teams that go into homes to help people in crisis, in the hope of preventing hospitalization. Hayward said the teams would be able to absorb the rate cut through administrative effeciencies.

Power boaters: Under the governor's proposal, new boat owners would pay $25 for title certificates, up from last year's fee of $10. In 2003, 5,247 boat-title certificates were issued. Also, under the proposal, the one-time registration fee for outboard motors would rise from $5 to $20. In 2003, 3,881 registrations for outboard motors were issued.

Recreation: RV and snowmobile registrations would go from $10 to $25. In 2003, 236 snowmobile registrations and 147 RV registrations were issued. Fishermen, hunters and beachgoers would see no increased fees under the proposal.

RIPTA riders: The administration says the budget would allow the financially pressed Rhode Island Public Transit Authority to continue operating through next June without a fare hike or a service cut.

Officials said they found a way to obtain more federal aid to provide transportation for clients of the state Department of Human Services, allowing the state to reimburse RIPTA for more of the real cost of providing that bus service.

Small businesses: Those who apply for a loan from the Small Business Administration can no longer claim the fee to guarantee that loan as a credit against their Rhode Island income tax.

State workers: Governor Carcieri wants to give state workers a 2-percent across-the-board salary increase, but also require them to begin paying a portion, 7 percent, of their health-insurance premiums.

Tax scofflaws: Anyone applying for a driver's license or a professional license, or anyone planning to register a car would be crosschecked, starting in January, against a list of tax violators. Those with debts would have to pay or work out a payment plan before getting their license or registration. The state estimates a $6.5-million savings.

Teachers: Several teacher certification fees, which are among the lowest in New England, would increase in FY2005, under the governor's proposed budget. The initial application fee would increase from $25 to $100; the special provisional fee would jump from $50 to $300 and another fee would go from $25 to $50.

Tradespeople: The examination license fees for workers such as electricians, plumbers and pipe fitters would rise from $36 to $75, making them equal with Massachusetts and Connecticut. There were 3,200 examinations administered in 2002.

Transportation: The proposed budget would allow the state Department of Transportation to continue its massive, $660-million construction program. It would include the relocation of Route 195 and its intersection with Route 95, and the reconstruction of the Washington Bridge, both in Providence. It also would include a new Sakonnet River Bridge, construction of the Route 403 connector to Quonset Point, and building a freight rail connection to Quonset.

Travelers: The governor is seeking General Assembly -- but not voter -- approval to finance a $169.5-million intermodal train station in Warwick connected by a people-mover to T.F. Green Airport. The project would be financed with federal grants and loans, state loans and fees charged on airport car rentals.

Work-force quality: The governor wants to increase funding for adult literacy programs by $1.4 million.

Working parents: The governor is proposing to narrow eligibility for state child-care subsidies and require larger copayments from the parents of children who are enrolled.

With staff reports by Liz Anderson, Linda Borg, Ed Fitzpatick, Felice J. Freyer, Katherine Gregg, Jennifer D. Jordan, Bruce Landis, Scott Mayerowitz, Edward Ortiz, Andrea L. Stape and Karen Lee Ziner