Providence FY 2020 budget passed by city council and signed by Mayor

Daniel Hollingworth

PROVIDENCE, RI (WLNE) – The Providence City Council passed the city’s 2020 fiscal year budget at Tuesday’s meeting.

Mayor Jorge Elorza signed the budget immediately after the city council meeting.

“I am pleased that by working with my colleagues in the City Council, we have passed a budget which balances our residents interests fairly and continues to makes critical investments in our communities to move Providence forward,” Elorza said in a statement.

The city council passed the budget 11-4.

The new budget includes a tax levy ordinance that brings back a homestead exemption.

The levy is a flat tax rate of $24.56/per thousand along with a homestead exemption of 40%.

Below is the formula to find your proposed tax rate if you’re a Providence resident:

(Assessed Property Value – 40%) x $24.56 ÷1,000 = FY2020 Property Tax Bill
 

 

This will be in addition to other exemptions like senior, widow, veteran, etc.

“I again want to express my thanks to the Committee on Finance, the Council’s finance team, Council staff including the Clerk’s Department, the Internal Auditor’s department, and the Treasury Department for their hard work during this process,” Council President Sabina Matos said. “With the budget in the rear view mirror, that work continues, and I know that we are ready for the challenges that lay ahead.”

In addition to the homestead exemption, the budget offers several other exemptions for residents to help provide tax relief where applicable.

Below is a complete list of exemptions, in addition to the homestead exemption, that Providence residents may be eligible for:
 
  • Elderly Exemption: Any person 65 years of age before December 31 or any person 62 years of age before December 31 and receiving Social Security Retirement Benefits are eligible for this exemption. The maximum exemption is $27,181. One must live in their home to be eligible for this exemption. 
  • Social Security Exemption: Any person Certified through Social Security Administration to be 100% disabled who owns and lives in their home are eligible for disability exemptions. The maximum exemption is $26,543. 
  • Service Disability: Any person 100% service connected disabled certified by the Veterans Administration who owns and lives in their home are eligible for a service disability exemption. The exemption is $16,330. 
  • Blind Exemption: Any person who is certified blind by his or her physician will be eligible for the blind exemption. One must live in their home to be eligible for this exemption. The maximum exemption is $48,989. 
  • Veteran Exemption: Any person honorably discharged from a recognized conflict, widow of a veteran or gold star parent, POW, in accordance with R.I.G.L. 44-3-4) shall be eligible for a veteran exemption. There is no form for the Veterans’ Exemption. Applicants need only submit their DD214 (discharge form). The maximum exemption is $8,138. 
  • Indigent Exemption: Rhode Island General Law 44-3-3 (16) states, any person deemed impoverished may request relief from taxes. To qualify for consideration, you must reside in the home for an entire calendar year. Provide the Assessor’s Office with any and all documents to substantiate your request. Come to City Hall for a further interview, if necessary.

In addition to the exemptions listed, residents have 90 days to appeal their current tax bill from the day the first payment is due.

To appeal residents can do so Online or by mail.

To find out if you qualify for an appeal visit council.providenceri.gov.

©WLNE-TV / ABC6 2019

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