Introduced By: Senators Badeau, Cote and Kelly
Date Introduced : June 9, 1998
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Sections 1, 2, and 3 of the Chapter 482 of the Public Laws of 1988 as amended by Chapter 241 of the Public Laws of 1994 entitled "An Act Relating to the Exemption and Assessment of Real and Ratable Tangible Property in the city of Woonsocket" are hereby further amended to read as follows:
Sec 1. {ADD Homestead exemption for the city of Woonsocket. ADD} Notwithstanding any other provisions of the general or special laws to the contrary, the city of Woonsocket is hereby authorized to fix a homestead exemption with respect to assessed value from local taxation on taxable real property used for residential purposes in the city of Woonsocket and to grant homestead exemptions to the owners of such real property in an amount of twenty-five percent (25%) of the assessed value. Any such homestead exemption shall only apply to real property used for residential purposes and improved with a dwelling or dwellings containing less than ten (10) dwelling units. Residential real estate is defined as real property used or held for human habitation containing one or more dwelling units, including rooming houses, and mobile homes with facilities designed and used for living, sleeping, cooking and eating on a non-transient basis. The property includes accessory land, buildings or improvements incidental to such habitation and used exclusively by the residents of the property or their guests. The property does not include a hotel or motel. In order to determine compliance with the homestead exemption outlined above, the city council shall provide by resolution or ordinance rules and regulations governing eligibility for the exemption established by this section.
Sec. 2. {ADD Assessment of ratable tangible property. ADD} The city of Woonsocket may assess ratable tangible property at its full and fair cash value, not to exceed one hundred percent (100%), in the same manner said city of Woonsocket assesses motor vehicles.
Sec. 3. {ADD Severability. ADD} The invalidity of any section or sections or parts of any section or sections shall not effect the validity of the remainder of the act.
SECTION 2. This act shall apply to all taxes assessed as of December 31, 1997 for the city's fiscal year ending June 30, 1999 and all years thereafter.
SECTION 3. There shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the city of Woonsocket at the next general election, for their approval of the following question: "Shall an act be passed by the general assembly at its 1998 Session, entitled 'An Act Relating to the Exemption and Assessment of Real and Ratable Tangible Property in the City of Woonsocket' be approved?" and the board of canvassers shall certify the results of said election to the secretary of state.
SECTION 4. This section and section 3 of this act shall take effect upon passage, and the remaining sections of this act shall take effect when the board of canvassers shall certify to the secretary of state that a majority of the qualified electors voting upon the question contained in section 3 shall have voted to approve the same.
