A N A C T
RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY TAX CLASSIFICATION AND HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION IN THE CITY OF WOONSOCKET
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 44-5 of the General Laws entitled "Levy and Assessment of Local Taxes" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
44-5-74. Property tax classification in the city of Woonsocket -- Authorization. -- The city of Woonsocket is hereby authorized to adopt a system of property tax classification.
44-5-74.1. List of Ratable Property -- Woonsocket. -- Upon adoption of a system of classification of taxable property by the city of Woonsocket, all ratable property in the city of Woonsocket shall be classified by the assessor as follows:
(a) Class one - all ratable tangible personal property and motor vehicles.
(b) Class two - residential real estate with less than eleven (11) units.
(c) Class three - all commercial and industrial real estate and residential real estate with eleven (11) units or more.
44-5-74.2. Valuation of ratable property -- Woonsocket. -- (a) The assessor of the city of Woonsocket on or before June 1 of each year shall make a full and fair cash valuation of all the estate, real and personal, including motor vehicles and trailers, subject to taxation and determine the assessed valuation of each property class.
(b) The assessor has the authority to apply different rates of taxation against class one, class two, and class three property to determine the tax due and payable on the property, provided, that the rate of taxation is uniform within each class. Additionally, the rate of taxation for class three (3) property shall never be greater than one hundred fifty percent (150%) of the rate for class two (2) property. When real property is used for mixed purposes the applicable rate shall be applied to the proportionate amount of the real property used for each purpose.
44-5-74.3. Procedure for adopting tax rates. -- Woonsocket. -- The assessor shall provide to the finance director a list containing the full and fair cash valuation of each property class, and with the approval of the city council, annually determine the percentages of the tax levy to be appointed each class of property and shall annually apply tax rates sufficient to produce the proportion of the total tax levy.
44-5-75. Homestead exemption. -- Woonsocket. - (a) The mayor, upon approval of the city council of the city of Woonsocket, is authorized to annually fix the amount, if any, of a homestead exemption with respect to assessed value from local taxation on taxable real property used for residential purposes in the city of Woonsocket and to grant homestead exemptions to the owner(s) of such residential real estate in amounts not to exceed the following percentages:
1. Single family and condominiums -- Thirty five percent (35%) exemption;
2. Two (2) family -- Twenty percent (20%) exemption;
3. Three (3) family -- Five percent (5%) exemption;
4. Four (4) to Ten (10) family -- No homestead exemption.
(b) Any such exemption shall only apply to residential property improved with a dwelling house. There shall be no homestead exemption granted for vacant land or for the residential portion of mixed use property in the city of Woonsocket, regardless of the number of units used for residential purposes. In order to determine compliance with the homestead exemption as outlined above, the city council shall provide by resolution or ordinance rules and regulations governing eligibility for the exemption established by this section.
(c) The city council of the city of Woonsocket may provide for a proration of the homestead exemption in cases where title to property passes from those not entitled to the exemption to those who are entitled to claim the exemption.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.