Byline: Neil Downing

Oct. 9--I received an invitation in the mail last week for a seminar in Warwick. It's called "Flocking to Florida: Estate Planning for New Englanders Making the Snowbird Connection."

The message is clear: If you move to Florida, you can save on taxes.

Keep that in mind, because the annual debate over Rhode Island's budget is off to an early start. Governor Carcieri has been making a lot of noise lately about the state's looming budget deficit, and with good reason -- the state is spending far more than it's taking in.

There's been talk about slashing state jobs, changing state pensions and other benefits, and cutting down on state ...