Chapter 303

2003 -- S 0544

Enacted 07/17/03

AN ACT

RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES -- BRISTOL

Introduced By: Senators Bates, Parella, and Felag

Date Introduced: February 13, 2003

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 sections:

44-5-13.33. Assessment and taxation of new real estate construction -- Bristol. – (a)

Completed new construction of real estate in Bristol completed after any assessment date is liable

for the payment of municipal taxes from the date the certificate of occupancy is issued or the date

on which the new construction is first used for the purpose for which it was constructed,

whichever is earlier, prorated for the assessment year in which the new construction is completed.

The prorated tax is computed on the basis of the rate of the tax applicable with respect to the

property, including the applicable rate of tax in any tax district in which the property is subject to

tax following completion of the new construction, on the date the property becomes liable for the

prorated tax in accordance with this section.

(b) The building inspector issuing the certificate shall, within ten (10) days after issuing

the certificate, notify, in writing, the assessor of the issuance of the certificate of occupancy.

(c) Not later than ninety (90) days after receipt by the assessor of the notice from the

building inspector or from a determination by the assessor that the new construction is being used

for the purpose for which it was constructed, the assessor shall determine the increment by which

the assessment for the completed construction exceeds the assessment on the tax roll for the

immediately preceding assessment date. The assessor shall prorate the amount from the date of

issuance of that certificate of occupancy or the date on which the new construction was first used

for the purpose for which it was constructed, as the case may be, to the assessment date

immediately following and shall add the increment as so prorated to the tax roll for the

immediately preceding assessment date and shall within five (5) days notify the record owner as

appearing on the tax roll and tax collector of the additional assessment.

(d) Any person claiming to be aggrieved by the action of the assessor under this section

may appeal to the assessment board of review within sixty (60) days from notification of the

additional assessment or to superior court as provided.

(e) Upon receipt of the notice from the assessor, the tax collector shall, if the notice is

received after the normal billing date, within ten (10) days thereafter mail or hand a bill to the

owner based upon an amount prorated by the assessor. The tax is due and payable and collectible

as other municipal taxes and subject to the same liens and processes of collection, provided, that

the tax is due and payable in an initial or single installment due and payable not sooner than thirty

(30) days after the date the bill is mailed or handed to the owner, and in any remaining, regular

installments, as they are due and payable, and the several installments of a tax due and payable

are equal.

(f) Nothing in this section authorizes the collection of taxes twice in respect of the land

upon which the new construction is located.

(g) This section applies only to taxes levied and properly assessed in the town of Bristol.

44-5-13.34. Reduction in assessed value of real estate -- Removal of damaged

buildings -- Bristol. – (a) Whenever, after the expiration of ninety (90) days after damage to a

building, the building remains damaged as to require reconstruction of seventy-five percent

(75%) or more before it may be used for any purpose related to its use prior to the damage and,

following which, the owner provides for seventy-five percent (75%) or more demolition of the

building, with the material from demolition being removed from the parcel of real property on

which the building was situated or used as fill on the parcel for purposes of grading, the parcel

shall be assessed for purposes of property tax as of the date of demolition, removal, and grading

are completed to the satisfaction of the building inspector and tax assessor, and the assessment

shall reflect a determination of the assessed value of the parcel, exclusive of the assessment value

of the damaged building, demolished, or removed.

(b) The adjusted assessment is applicable with respect to the parcel from the date

demolition, removal, and grading are completed, as determined by the building inspector, until

the thirty-first (31st) day of December next succeeding and the amount of property tax payable

with respect to the parcel for the assessment year in which demolition, removal, and grading are

completed is adjusted accordingly in the manner determined by the assessor.

(c) The Bristol town council is authorized to suspend this tax abatement policy for any

year in which so many buildings within the town of Bristol are so severely damaged that granting

reduced assessments for all would jeopardize the fiscal integrity of the town.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.     

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LC01790

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