R.I. Gov. to Sign $8.67B State Budget for 2016

Gov. Gina Raimondo is signing an $8.67 billion state budget for the new fiscal year.

Raimondo will hold a signing ceremony at the statehouse Tuesday. House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello and Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed plan to attend.

The 2016 fiscal year begins Wednesday.

The budget includes Raimondo's new initiatives and tax credits to spur job growth and Mattiello's top priority of exempting Social Security from the state income tax.

It includes funding for Paiva Weed's longstanding priority of offering full-day kindergarten in every community.

The budget eliminates the sales tax on energy for commercial users and lowers the annual minimum corporate tax.

The House unanimously approved it. The Senate voted 35-3 in favor.

The legislative session ended abruptly last week with the fate of dozens of bills still undecided.