A N     A C T

RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES

Introduced By: Representatives Ferguson, Millard and C. Levesque

Date Introduced : June 26, 1998

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 44-5-11.6 of the General Laws in Chapter 44-5 entitled "Levy and Assessment of Local Taxes" is hereby amended to read as follows:

44-5-11.6. Assessment of violations -- Apportionment of levies. -- (A) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 44-5-11, beginning on December 31, 2000, the assessors in the several towns and cities shall conduct an update as herein defined or shall assess all valuations and apportions the levy of all taxes legally ordered under the rules and regulations, not repugnant to law, as the town meetings and city councils, respectively shall from time to time prescribe; provided, that such update or valuation shall be performed in accordance with the following schedules:

(1) For a transition period, for cities and towns who conducted or implemented a revaluation as of 1993 or in years later:

	Update	Revaluation
Lincoln	2000	2003
South Kingstown	2000	2003
Smithfield	2000	2003
West Warwick	2000	2003
Johnston	2000	2003
Burrillville	2000	2003
North Smithfield	2000	2003
Central Falls	2000	2003
North Kingstown	2000	2003
Jamestown	2000	2003
North Providence	2001	2004
Cumberland	2001	2004
Bristol	{DEL 2001 DEL} {ADD 2004 ADD}	{DEL 2004 DEL} {ADD 2001 ADD}
Charlestown	2001	2004
East Greenwich	2002	2005
Cranston	2002	2005
Barrington	2002	2005
Warwick	2003	2006
Warren	2003	2006
East Providence	2003	2006

The implementation date for the above schedule shall be December 31st, of the stated year. Those cities and towns not listed above, shall continue the revaluation schedule pursuant to section 44-5-11. (B) For the post transition period and in years thereafter:

{DELDEL}

	Update #1	Update #2	Revaluation
Woonsocket	2000	2003	2006
Pawtucket	2001	2004	2007
Portsmouth	2001	2004	2007
Coventry	2001	2004	2007
Providence	2002	2005	2008
Foster	2002	2005	2008
Middletown	2002	2005	2008
Little Compton	2003	2006	2009
Scituate	2003	2006	2009
Westerly	2003	2006	2009
West Greenwich	2004	2007	2010
Glocester	2004	2007	2010
Richmond	2004	2007	2010
{ADD Bristol	2004	2007	2010
Tiverton	2005	2008	2011
Newport	2005	2008	2011
New Shoreham	2005	2008	2011
Narragansett	2005	2008	2011
Exeter	2005	2008	2011
Hopkinton	2005	2008	2011
Lincoln	2006	2009	2012
South Kingstown	2006	2009	2012
Smithfield	2006	2009	2012
West Warwick	2006	2009	2012
Johnston	2006	2009	2012
Burrillville	2006	2009	2012
North Smithfield	2006	2009	2012
Central Falls	2006	2009	2012
North Kingstown	2006	2009	2012
Jamestown	2006	2009	2012
North Providence	2007	2010	2013
Cumberland	2007	2010	2013
Bristol	2007	2010	2013
Charlestown	2007	2010	2013
East Greenwich	2008	2011	2014
Cranston	2008	2011	2014
Barrington	2008	2011	2014
Warwick	2009	2012	2015
Warren	2009	2012	2015
East Providence	2009	2012	2015

The implementation date for the above schedule shall be December 31st of the stated year. Upon the completion of the update and revaluation schedule above, each city and town shall conduct a revaluation within nine (9) years of the date of the prior revaluation and shall conduct an update of real property every three (3) years from the last revaluation. (C) No later than February 1, 1998, the director of the Department of Administration shall promulgate rules and regulations consistent with the provisions of this section to define the requirements for the updates which shall include, but not be limited to: (1) An analysis of sales; (2) A rebuilding of land value tables; (3) A rebuilding of cost tables of all improvement items; and (4) A rebuilding of depreciation schedules. Upon completion of an update, each city or town shall provide for a hearing and/or appeal process for any aggrieved person to address any issue which arose during the update. (D) The costs incurred by the towns and cities for the first update shall be borne by the state in an amount not to exceed fifteen dollars ($15.00) per parcel. The costs incurred by the towns and cities for the second update shall be borne eighty percent (80%) by the state (in an amount not to exceed ten dollars ($10.00) per parcel) and twenty percent (20%) by the town or city and in the third update and thereafter, the state shall pay sixty percent (60%) of the update (not to exceed six dollars ($6.00) per parcel) and the town or city shall pay forty percent (40%); provided, however, for the second update and in all updates thereafter, that the costs incurred by any city or town which is determined to be a distressed community pursuant to section 45-13-12 shall be borne eighty percent (80%) by the state and twenty percent (20%) by the city and towns for all updates required by this section. (E) The office of municipal affairs, after consultation with the league of cities and towns and the Rhode Island Assessors' Association, shall recommend adjustments to the costs formula described in subsection (D) above based upon existing market conditions. (F) Any property, which is either exempt from the local property tax pursuant to section 44-3-3 or which pays a city or town an amount in lieu of taxes, will not be required to have its values updated pursuant to section 44-5-11.6, and such property shall not be eligible for the reimbursement provisions of section 44-5-11.6(e). However, those properties which are exempt from taxation and are eligible for state appropriations in lieu of property tax under the provisions of section 45-13-5.1 will be eligible for state reimbursement pursuant to section 44-5-11.6(e), provided that these properties were revalued as part of that city or town's most recent property revaluation. (G) No city or town shall be required to conduct an update pursuant to this section unless the state has appropriated sufficient funds to cover the state's costs as identified in subsection (E) above. (H) Any city or town who fails to conduct an update or revaluation as required by this section, shall be subject to the provisions in section 45-13-1.1. (I) Any bill or resolution to extend the dates for a city or town to conduct an update or revaluation must be approved by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of both houses of the general assembly.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.