Rhode Island

Though they may sound as far apart as they ever were on public-financing of a new Pawtucket Red Sox stadium, House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello and Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien appear to have found what one calls a "framework" and the other "a pathway" for a possible deal.

Employers in New York also are allowed to implement a 5% payroll tax as a way of paying some of their employees’ state income taxes.

The competitive issuance will include roughly $35 million of taxable bonds.

Rhode Island voters give the public schools a passing grade and two-thirds of them support the proposed $250-million state bond issue for public school repair and construction.

Benefit changes for the city’s public safety pensions will remain, said Moody's Investors Service.

The city's bond lawyer was not at the meeting and the board wasn't given a fiscal note saying how much the borrowing would actually cost.

House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello said he would hold hearings on the $83 million package.

The full Senate could vote next week on a financing package to replace 75-year-old McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket.

The state faces a $60 million hole in the current fiscal year and more than $200 million for fiscal 2019.

Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien on Tuesday urged state legislators to consider a "Plan B" if they're not willing to vote on the current stadium-financing plan to build a new Triple-A ballpark for the PawSox.