April 18, 1997 - Journal of the Special Council Meeting 

CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE

RHODE ISLAND

SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING

FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 1997

RE: REVALUATION AND PROPERTY TAX RATE

Present:          Mayor Rolland R. Grant

                       Gerald R. Lynch

                       Peter F. Midgley               City Council

                       Norman J. Miranda

                       Paul E. Lemont                 City Manager

                       William J. Conley, Jr.        City Solicitor

                       Valerie A. Perry                City Clerk

Absent:           Joseph S. Larisa, Jr.         City Council

Mayor Grant calls the meeting to order at 6:08 p.m and states that this is a Council workshop and the public will not have the opportunity to speak, but a public hearing will be held at a later time.

James McDonald, Finance Director, answers questions from the Council.  He says the numbers given at the Council meeting held earlier this week were before any exemptions are made.  The Veteran's exemption is currently $3,000 and will be increased to approximately $4,500 or $4,560.  The Senior Citizen exemption which is currently set at $10,000, will increase to $16,000 or $16,500.

Mr. McDonald goes on to explain about the commercial and tangible tax rates. (Mr.  Larisa is now present at 6:22 p.m.)

Mr. McDonald states that five communities in the State charge a separate rate for motor vehicles, and to do so will need General Assembly approval.

He says another thing that can be done is to amend the Homestead exemption from 15% to 30%.  If that is done, along with a tangible tax rate, the tax rate would be set at $24.50, with an effective rate of $18.40, or an average increase of 8% to the homeowner.

Mr. Larisa states that the Council needs to do everything in its power to make sure they are on the record tonight informing the General Assembly that they are willing to live with a Homestead exemption with a 30% cap; inform them that the Council passed this resolution; and inform them in the resolution that without these bills acted on immediately by both the House and Senate, the city is going to have an average 18% tax increase for the property owners.