Where it standsThe council passed a cap on most yearly rent increases in April 2026, but Mayor Brett Smiley vetoed it and the override fell one vote short.

What's on the tableWhether to pass rent stabilization again; passage takes 8 of 15 votes, and overriding a veto takes 10.

The council gave final passage to the Providence Rent Stabilization Act 9-6 on April 16, 2026. Providence City Council minutes, April 16, 2026 · Apr 16, 2026
Supporters needed 10 votes to override Mayor Smiley's veto, and all nine supporters voted to override it. Rhode Island Current · May 15, 2026
At least 10 councilors who won in the September primary publicly support rent control, WPRI reported. WPRI · Sep 18, 2026
The new council would need eight of its 15 members to pass rent control. WPRI · Sep 18, 2026

City budget, taxes and pensions

Where it standsThe council passed a $636 million budget for fiscal year 2027 in June 2026, and the mayor signed it without a tax increase.

What's on the tableThe fiscal year 2028 budget and tax rates, including how to keep paying the city's pension bill.

Councilors passed the City's $636 million budget for fiscal year 2027 on June 18, 2026. Providence City Council · Jun 18, 2026
The city says the FY2027 budget maintains city services without raising taxes. City of Providence · Jun 22, 2026
The FY2027 budget includes $152.2 million for Providence Public Schools. City of Providence · Jun 22, 2026
Mayor Smiley said the city's annual pension payment is about $120 million, compared with roughly $15 million if the system were fully funded. Rhode Island Current · Jul 24, 2026

Tax breaks for development and affordable housing

Where it standsIn July 2026 the council passed new local rules for the 8% low-income housing tax treatment and a construction-period tax break for affordable housing.

What's on the tableWhich developers get tax stabilization agreements, and what affordability or labor rules come with them.

The council gave second passage to the Providence 8 Law Qualifications and the Providence Build Act 10-2 on July 16, 2026. Providence City Council minutes, July 16, 2026 · Jul 16, 2026
The BUILD Act provides a two-year tax stabilization period for eligible affordable development projects before tenants move in. Providence City Council · Jul 2, 2026
The 8 Law ordinance establishes local rules for how Providence grants the 8% tax treatment. Providence City Council · Jul 2, 2026
The council passed an earlier 8 Law ordinance 13-2 in April 2024, and Mayor Smiley vetoed it. Providence City Council · Jul 2, 2026

Policing, surveillance and immigration

Where it standsProvidence police use 60 Flock Safety license-plate cameras, and the mayor has ordered that city employees not proactively collaborate with ICE.

What's on the tableWhether to keep or end the Flock camera contract, how the city responds to ICE, and changes to civilian police oversight.

Providence police say 60 Flock Safety cameras photograph passing vehicles and the photos are stored for a month. WPRI · Aug 12, 2026
As of August 2026, the city's contract with Flock Safety was set to expire in October. WPRI · Aug 12, 2026
Mayor Smiley says he signed an executive order stating that the city will never proactively collaborate with ICE. Rhode Island Current Voter Guide
In May 2026 the council gave first passage, 6-1 with four abstentions, to amendments to the Providence External Review Authority (PERA) ordinance. Providence City Council minutes, May 21, 2026 · May 21, 2026

Question 7: city investments

Where it standsA citizen-initiated ordinance on the Nov. 3 ballot would limit city investments tied to countries committing severe human rights violations.

What's on the tableHow the city carries out Question 7 if voters approve it.

The council received the petition on April 16, 2026 and did not enact it, so supporters gathered more signatures to put it on the ballot. Rhode Island Current · Aug 31, 2026
Organizers needed 5,549 signatures, and 6,036 were verified, according to City Clerk Tina Mastroianni. Rhode Island Current · Aug 31, 2026
The mayor's office said the city Law Department concluded Question 7 cannot lawfully direct or restrict the city's current investment decisions. Rhode Island Current · Aug 31, 2026
The city's pension fund was valued at about $636.3 million as of May 31, 2026. Rhode Island Current · Aug 31, 2026

Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

1. Should Providence cap most yearly rent increases, as the vetoed 4% rent stabilization ordinance would have?
2. Should city leaders promise not to raise property taxes?
3. When should Providence give developers tax stabilization agreements (multi-year tax breaks)?
4. Should Providence keep its Flock license-plate-reader cameras?
5. What should Providence police and city staff do when federal immigration agents (ICE) operate in the city?
6. Question 7 would limit city investments tied to countries committing severe human rights violations. How would you vote?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

Voter registration deadlineRI Board of ElectionsOct 4, 2026
Mail ballot application deadlineRI Board of ElectionsOct 13, 2026
Early voting beginsRI Board of ElectionsOct 14, 2026
Election DayRI Board of ElectionsNov 3, 2026

The seat math

0 stay (not up this year): 15 on this ballot

15 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 8-vote majority.

All 15 City Council seats are on the 2026 ballot; members serve four-year terms and are limited to three consecutive terms. Rhode Island Current · May 15, 2026
Overriding a mayoral veto takes 10 votes, a supermajority of the 15-member council. Rhode Island Current · May 15, 2026
The mayor serves a four-year term. Rhode Island Current Voter Guide

Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works →

See something wrong? Report an error

Something wrong or missing? Tell us what and where, with a link to a source if you have one. Reports feed the next verification run.