2022 -- S 2867

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LC005672

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION--CITY OF

WOONSOCKET

     Introduced By: Senators Picard, and Murray

     Date Introduced: April 07, 2022

     Referred To: Senate Housing & Municipal Government

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 44-3-9.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 44-3 entitled "Property

Subject to Taxation" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     44-3-9.1. Woonsocket -- Exemption or stabilizing of taxes on qualifying property

located in designated districts in the city.

     (a) Except as provided in this section, the city council of the city of Woonsocket may vote

to authorize, for a period not exceeding ten (10) twenty (20) years, and subject to the conditions

provided in this section, to exempt from payment, in whole or in part, real and personal qualifying

property, or to determine a stabilized amount, of taxes to be paid on account of the qualifying

property located within a district designated by the city council, notwithstanding the valuation of

the property or the rate of tax; provided, that after a public hearing, at least ten (10) days' notice of

which shall be given in a newspaper having a general circulation in the city, the city council

determines that designation of the district and granting of the exemption or stabilization for

qualifying property located in the city will inure to the benefit of the city by reason of the

willingness of owners of qualifying property to replace, reconstruct, expand, or remodel existing

buildings, facilities, machinery, or equipment with modern buildings, facilities, fixtures,

machinery, or equipment, or to construct new buildings or facilities or acquire new machinery or

equipment for use in such buildings or facilities, resulting in an increase in investment by such

owners in the city.

     (b) For purposes of this section, "qualifying property" means any building or structures

used or intended to be used essentially for offices or commercial enterprises or for residential

purposes.

     (c) Except as provided in this section, property, the payment of taxes on which has been so

exempted or which is subject to the payment of a stabilized amount of taxes, shall not, during the

period for which the exemption or stabilization of the amount of taxes is granted, be further liable

to taxation by the city so long as that property is used or intended to be used for the manufacturing,

commercial, or residential purposes for which the exemption or stabilized amount of taxes was

made.

     (d) Notwithstanding any vote and findings by the city council, the property shall be

assessed for and shall pay that portion of the tax, if any, assessed by the city, for the purpose of

paying the indebtedness of the city and the indebtedness of the state or any political subdivision of

the state to the extent assessed upon or apportioned to the city, and the interest on the indebtedness,

and for appropriation to any sinking fund of the city, which portion of the tax shall be paid in full,

and the taxes so assessed and collected shall be kept in a separate account and used only for that

purpose.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION--CITY OF

WOONSOCKET

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     This act would authorize the city of Woonsocket to extend the exemption or stabilizing of

taxes on qualifying property located in designated districts in the city to twenty (20) years in order

to facilitate economic development within the city. The current law provides for a ten (10) year

period.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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