EAST PROVIDENCE — Chronic tax delinquents in East Providence will soon get a chance to bring their accounts up to date after the City Council agreed on ordinance for a one-time offer to make good.

At the behest of the office of Mayor Bob DaSilva and following enabling legislation sponsored at the State House by the city's General Assembly delegation, residents in arrears with all varieties of taxation will have the opportunity to square their accounts before the end of the current fiscal year.

DaSilva lobbied both legislative bodies to offer taxpayers a a waiver of interest and penalties up to $10,000, provided they make full and complete payments over a 60-day period from August 15, 2023-October 14, 2023.

The waiver must be requested in writing, in a designated form created by the assessor and also must be signed and dated by the payer.

State approval first
The Council's approval followed the passage of of House Bill 6165 and Senate Bill 885 entitled “An Act Relating to Taxation — Levy and Assessment of Local Taxes” sponsored by Representatives Katherine Kazarian, Jennifer Boylan, Matt Dawson and Briana Henries in the House and in the upper chamber by Senators Valerie Lawson, Robert Britto and Pam Lauria.

The waiver includes all types of outstanding tax on real estate, tangible property and vehicles.

Tangible tax news
The Council, led on the matter by Ward 4 member Rick Lawson, and city-side Finance Director Malcolm Moore briefly discussed the recent enacted of a state-imposed increase in the allowable total tax exemption on tangible property.

Sponsored by Sen. Melissa A. Murray (D-Dist. 24, Woonsocket, North Smithfield) and Rep. Brandon T. Voas (D-Dist. 57, Cumberland, Central Falls), the legislation upped exemption from first $5,000 of tangible property to $50,000. The lawmakers claimed the move was to help small businesses especially.

Moore told the Council the city would have been down upwards of $1.8 million in revenue due to the change, however, much like what was done with the elimination of the motor vehicle tax, the state will be reimbursing municipalities up to $10 million in lost levies.