Budgeting and Appropriations

Annual budget; fiscal year begins July 1. RIDOT's budget request is submitted to the State Budget Office in the Department of Administration, the House, the Senate and the governors office. The Budget Office provides analysis and recommendations to the governor, who then prepares a unified budget request for all state departments and agencies. The General Assembly makes adjustments to proposed expenditures and revenues, and appropriates funding at the program level.

Bonding or Pay-as-You-Go

Bonding is the major source of financing; about 25 percent is pay-as-you-go.

State-Level Funding Provided for DOT Budgets

FY 2011 (approved): $152.4 million FY 2010: $177.9 million FY 2009: $181.3 million FY 2008: $149.4 million

Allocation of Federal Transportation Funds to the DOT

Federal transportation funds are allocated to RIDOT through a state legislative appropriation at the program or category level.

Allocation of State Transportation Funds to the DOT

State transportation funds also are allocated to RIDOT through a state legislative appropriation at the program or category level.

Traditional State Funding and Finance for Highways

Fuel taxes; general obligation bonds.

State Funding and Finance for Other Modes

Transit: General funds; fuel taxes; general obligation bonds.

Innovative Transportation Funding and Finance

GARVEE bonds; federal credit assistance (TIFIA); state infrastructure bank (federally capitalized); PPPs (reported in survey; no authorizing statute found); design-build (reported in survey; no authorizing statute found); traffic camera fees; impact fees; creation of nonprofit, quasi-public entities (one for transit and one to operate the state's single toll bridge).

Dedicated/Restricted State Funds and Revenues

State statute restricts use of motor fuel tax revenues to transportation purposes. Fuel tax receipts are deposited primarily to the Intermodal Surface Transportation Fund, with a certain portion set aside for transit (R.I. Gen. Laws §31-36-20). General obligation bonds must be used for the purposes set forth in the ballot question and may not exceed the amount authorized by the voters.

DOT Authorized to Retain Surplus Funds

Yes. Excess federal funds can be carried forward into the next fiscal year. Certain state funds, such as capital funds, are automatically reappropriated to the following fiscal year. Revenues in excess of budgeted amounts are retained in the fund dedicated to transportation uses.

Legislative Approval Required to Move Funds Between Projects

Yes, if RIDOT is using funds derived from the state fuel tax or other state sources.

Transportation Funding Allocations through Local Aid

Funds for road construction and maintenance are allocated by RIDOT to cities and towns by a formula based on road miles (R.I. Gen. Laws §24-8-17). RIDOT also allocates state aid for maintenance of town highways and bridges, up to one-fifth of an eligible town's appropriations for these purposes (R.I. Gen. Laws §24-5-4). Rhode Island does not have organized county governments.