RI gov., mayors meet, discuss finances

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - The mayors of Rhode Island's four largest cities have asked Gov. Don Carcieri to spare their communities additional cuts in state aid and for more local control over school spending.

The mayors of Providence, Warwick, Cranston and Pawtucket met with the Republican governor for about 90 minutes on Wednesday to discuss the state's $200 million budget gap.

Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian tells The Providence Journal he told the governor about the hit his city would take if Carcieri withholds $32 million the state had promised to compensate for lost car-tax revenue.

Pawtucket Mayor James Doyle said he raised the issue of trying to repeal the law that allows school departments to sue cities for lack of funding.

Carcieri said the purpose of the meeting was to open a dialogue.