PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Providence Mayor Brett Smiley responded to last weeks court decision that the city needs to ‘pay up’ for Providence Schools, claiming there will be real consequences. “We are going to have no choice but to have harmful cuts and potentially new taxes that are going to impact the very same children and families that the school department says they are trying to help,” Smiley said. Last week in Providence Superior Court, the judge said that in accordance to the Crowley Act, city funding for school districts under state intervention must be increased by the same percentage as the increase in statewide school aid. Depending on the results of the next court hearing on Nov. 20, Mayor Smiley warned residents that there’s a potential for city employees to get furlough days, and events like PVD Fest could be cancelled. “Effective this morning, Providence has implemented a hiring freeze and we are pausing all discretionary spending in city departments,” Smiley said. “I’m excited that finally the judge saw our way, that PPSD has always been correct,” PPSD Superintendent Javier Montañez said. “We are looking at the litigation, and I always go back to what’s important, and that’s our students, and that they receive all of the supports that they need.” Some students walked down to Providence City Hall from the PPSD’s headquarters Tuesday afternoon. “The fact that we are in this position in the first place is just completely disgusting,” PPSD student, Julianna Espinal said. “I feel like in some ways the city and the state do have dual responsibility because I feel like we shouldn’t have gotten to this point and our future shouldn’t be treated as a throwaway.” “The state has gone above and beyond,” Montañez said. “The state has given over $30 million to Providence while the city has only given $5.5 million this year alone. Years and years of underfunding our students, that is the reason we are here.” Categories: News, Providence, Rhode Island