Chapter 516
2013 -- H 6101
Enacted 07/19/13
A N A C T
RELATING TO
TAXATION - POWERS AND DUTIES OF FIRE DISTRICTS IN THE TOWN OF
Introduced By: Representative Scott J. Guthrie
Date Introduced: May 09, 2013
It is enacted by the
General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Title 44 of the General Laws entitled
"TAXATION" is hereby amended by
adding thereto the following chapter:
CHAPTER
5.2
POWERS
AND DUTIES OF FIRE DISTRICTS IN THE TOWN OF
44-5.2-1.
Tax classification. -- (a) Any
fire district in the town of
tax classification plan, by a vote of the electors of the
district, with the following limitations:
(1) The designated
classes of property shall be limited to the four (4) classes as defined
in subsection (b) of this section.
(2) The effective tax
rate applicable to any class excluding class 4 shall not exceed by
fifty percent (50%) the rate applicable to any other class.
(3) Any tax rate changes
from one year to the next shall be applied such that the same
percentage rate change is applicable to all classes, excluding
class 4.
(4) Notwithstanding
subdivisions (2) and (3) of this subsection, the tax rates applicable to
wholesale and retail inventory within class 3 as defined in
subsection (b) of this section are
governed by section 44-3-29.1.
(5) The tax rates
applicable to motor vehicles within class 4 as defined in subsection (b)
of this section are governed by section 44-34.1-1.
(6) The provisions of
chapter 35 of this title relating to property tax and fiscal disclosure
applies to the reporting of and compliance with these
classification restrictions.
(b) Classes of
Property.
(1) Class 1:
Residential real estate consisting of no more than five (5) dwelling units,
land
classified as open space, and dwellings on leased land including
mobile homes.
(2) Class 2:
Commercial and industrial real estate, residential properties containing
partial
commercial or business uses and residential real estate of more
than five (5) dwelling units.
(3) Class 3: All
ratable tangible personal property.
(4) Class 4: Motor
vehicles and trailers subject to the excise tax created by chapter 34 of
this title.
44-5.2-2
Audit of Accounts and Installation of Systems. -- All
fire districts located
within the town of
44-5.2-3.
Availability of funds upon failure of fire district to approve annual
appropriation. -- Unless otherwise provided by charter, if a fire
district in the town of
fails to approve an annual appropriation measure, the same
amounts appropriated in the previous
fiscal year shall be available.
44-5.2-4.
Compliance. -- Unless otherwise provided, the
division of municipal finance in
the department of revenue shall monitor fire district
compliance with this chapter and issue
periodic reports to the general assembly on compliance.
44-5.2-5.
Application. -- The powers and duties set forth
in this chapter shall not apply
if specifically prohibited by the charter of any fire
district.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC02553
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