Giannini: Time to Tell The Car Tax to Hit The Road
Joanne Giannini, GoLocalProv MINDSETTER™
Giannini: Time to Tell The Car Tax to Hit The Road
It was suppose to be an eight year phase out plan that would've eliminated the car taxes in every town and municipality in the State of Rhode Island. This plan came out of a study commission that I chaired for a year to eliminate the motor vehicle excise tax and inventory taxes in Rhode Island. The House study commission was formed as a result of legislation I filed in 1996 to eliminate the car tax. I was asked to Chair the commission by then Finance chair Antonio Pires .
The car tax elimination commission which was formed in the House consisted of the Director of Administration, the Administrator of the Registry of Motor Vehicles, the head of the Tax Assessors association, the Chair of the Vehicle Value Commission,the tax assessor in Providence, the Executive Director of the League of Cities and towns, the Supervisor of the Tax Equalization section of the office of Municipal affairs and two other legislators.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe goal was to find a fair way to set up a car tax elimination program. The committee' s findings were that no two cities or towns in Rhode Island paid the same car tax. For example at that time, vehicles in the town of New Shoreham were assessed at $9.20 per thousand, while Providence motor vehicles were assessed at $76.78 per thousand. We knew this was an injustice, especially to the little guy who struggles to own a car. Why should you pay one price in New Shoreham for tax and then pay much more for the same car because you live in Providence or another city? The plan was to eliminate the car tax completely by the year 2005.
The General Assembly passed the Fiscal year 1999 State Budget (P.L. 1998, Ch. 31) which included an article beginning the process to eliminate all vehicle property taxes by 2005. The first checks, totally $5,849,127.94, were mailed to the states's municipalities and fire districts as the state's first advance tax reimbursements in November of 1998. The General Assembly repealed the motor vehicle tax by increasing exemptions, beginning with a $1500 exemption in Fiscal Year 2000, and raising exemptions each year and by freezing rates at FY 1998 levels. General state revenues were to be used to reimburse cities and towns for loss revenue, eventually including the then 0.6 cents of sales tax which was used to pay the DEPCO debt.
I was happy to co- sponsor the Motor Vehicle Excise tax elimination phase out program which was introduced in 1998 by Rep. Antonio Pires. I also was appointed to chair the Permanent oversight commission to oversee the implementation of the car tax phase out plan.
Economic times were better than, there was a state surplus and taxpayers were happy to finally see something being done about the unfair car tax.
Although we had many supporters, there were the groups that felt the money could be used for other purposes other than tax relief, I remember testimony from some non-profit agencies
saying the money should go to more social programs than providing tax relief. This was an on going battle for many years in the general assembly because the car tax elimination phase out was costing about $133 million a year to reimburse the cities and towns.
I remember one State Representative calling me the " million dollar baby" saying the plan coming out of my car tax study commission was costing millions of dollars that could go for other state causes. I responded by saying that eliminating the car tax for our constituents was a relief of an unfair tax burden that other states do not even have and that our taxpayers needed relief.
After two years of its implementation the car tax elimination program was frozen under the Lincoln Almond administration based on the argument that state revenues could no longer afford the reimbursements to cities and towns. I remember being the only one on the House floor to vote "no" on the freezing of the program feeling very strongly we were going back on a promise to the people of Rhode Island.
In 2005, I filed House Bill H5077 to reinstate the motor vehicle excise tax phase out.the bill was to eliminate the car tax by 2008. The exemptions on their car taxes would increase yearly causing the amount they were taxed on to decrease eventually phasing out the tax. Revenues were to come from the expansion of the Twin River expansion.
Finally in June of 2006, the House Finance Committee passed my bill to accelerate the dormant car tax phase out plan by exempting the first $6,000 of a car's value in 2007. I was happy to see this happen because it meant that we were keeping our word to the people of Rhode Island to get rid of one of the most regressive taxes of all time.
But that happiness ended when a few years later an article was passed to eliminate the phase out plan once again because of tough economic times. To make matters worse, the General Assembly then dropped the exception of car values for local tax purposes from $6,000 to$500.00 in 2011 leaving taxpayers stunned with tax bills several times higher than they were paying in previous years. Since then the focus has been put on the Rhode Island Vehicle Value Commission and the way it values motor vehicles. The problem is that cities and towns feel that if you lower the vehicle values they would receive less revenue from taxes collected and therefore have budget shortages. Per state law, the vehicle value commission uses the clean retail value of the make and year of a vehicle for tax purposes and there is no appeal process for an owner to do.
The Car Tax Phase Out plan of 1998 was a commitment made to the people of Rhode Island.
Yes, economic times were better and the state had a surplus. At election time we read that Governor Raimondo and Mayor Elorza had pledged support to get rid of the car tax .
The Governor has announced an unexpected state surplus of approximately 106.8 million this year and approximately 36 million next year. What better way to help the taxpayers than to reinstate the car tax elimination phase out. It is widely supported in the community and I remember when Governor Almond first proposed freezing the car tax phase out, constituents sent the Governor a petition with 2,000 signatures to continue the car tax phase out plan.
So, yes there is large support out there in the community. The car tax phase out plan has hit a bumpy road for almost twenty years now since we first passed legislation to eliminate it in 1998.
When will it finally be phased out? Let's fulfill a commitment that was made to Rhode Islanders in 1998. By reinstating the car tax phase out, the State would be keeping their word to the people. And we all know in politics you are only as good as your word.
It's time to tell the car tax to hit the road. It's long overdue.
The Highest Taxed Communities for 2015
#39 New Shoreham
FY 2015 Tax Rates Per $1,000 in Value
Residential: $5.34
Commercial: $5.34
Personal Property: $5.34
Motor Vehicle: $9.75
Tax Cost for Residents
Taxes for a Single Family Home Valued at $215,000: $1,148.10
For a 2008 Honda Accord: $147.71
Total Taxes as a % of Median Income:1.43%
Note: Real property is assessed at 80 percent of value. This is reflected in the community's ranking.
#38 Little Compton
FY 2015 Tax Rates Per $1,000 in Value
Residential: $5.64
Commercial: $5.64
Personal Property: $11.28
Motor Vehicle: $13.90
Tax Cost for Residents
Taxes for a Single Family Home Valued at $215,000: $1,212.60
For a 2008 Honda Accord: $210.59
Total Taxes as a % of Median Income: 1.56%
#37 Jamestown
FY 2015 Tax Rates Per $1,000 in Value
Residential: $8.75
Commercial: $8.75
Personal Property: $8.75
Motor Vehicle: $14.42
Tax Cost for Residents
Taxes for a Single Family Home Valued at $215,000: $1,881.25
For a 2008 Honda Accord: $218.46
Total Taxes as a % of Median Income: 2.46%
#36 Charlestown
FY 2015 Tax Rates Per $1,000 in Value
Residential: $9.90
Commercial: $9.90
Personal Property: $9.90
Motor Vehicle: $13.08
Tax Cost for Residents
Taxes for a Single Family Home Valued at $215,000: $2,128.50
For a 2008 Honda Accord: $198.16
Total Taxes as a % of Median Income: 3.20%
#35 Bristol
FY 2015 Tax Rates Per $1,000 in Value
Residential: $13.06
Commercial: $13.06
Personal Property: $13.06
Motor Vehicle: $17.35
Tax Cost for Residents
Taxes for a Single Family Home Valued at $215,000: $2,807.90
For a 2008 Honda Accord: $262.85
Total Taxes as a % of Median Income: 5.04%
Note: Bristol had a revaluation or statistical update effective December 31, 2013
#34 Narragansett
FY 2015 Tax Rates Per $1,000 in Value
Residential: $10.04
Commercial: $15.06
Personal Property: $15.06
Motor Vehicle: $16.46
Tax Cost for Residents
Taxes for a Single Family Home Valued at $215,000: $2,158.60
For a 2008 Honda Accord: $249.37
Total Taxes as a % of Median Income: 3.58%
#33 Westerly
FY 2015 Tax Rates Per $1,000 in Value
Residential: $10.64
Commercial: $10.64
Personal Property: $10.64
Motor Vehicle: $29.67
Tax Cost for Residents
Taxes for a Single Family Home Valued at $215,000: $2,287.60
For a 2008 Honda Accord: $449.50
Total Taxes as a % of Median Income: 4.64%
#32 Portsmouth
FY 2015 Tax Rates Per $1,000 in Value
Residential: $15.80
Commercial: $15.80
Personal Property: $15.80
Motor Vehicle: $22.50
Tax Cost for Residents
Taxes for a Single Family Home Valued at $215,000: $3,397.00
For a 2008 Honda Accord: $340.88
Total Taxes as a % of Median Income: 5.10%
Note: Motor vehicles are assessed at 70 percent of value. This is reflected in the community's ranking.
#31 South Kingstown
FY 2015 Tax Rates Per $1,000 in Value
Residential: $15.48
Commercial: $15.48
Personal Property: $15.48
Motor Vehicle: $18.71
Tax Cost for Residents
Taxes for a Single Family Home Valued at $215,000: $3,328.20
For a 2008 Honda Accord: $283.46
Total Taxes as a % of Median Income: 4.91%
#30 Newport
FY 2015 Tax Rates Per $1,000 in Value
Residential: $12.06
Commercial:$16.72
Personal Property: $16.72
Motor Vehicle: $23.45
Tax Cost for Residents
Taxes for a Single Family Home Valued at $215,000: $2,592.90
For a 2008 Honda Accord: $355.27
Total Taxes as a % of Median Income: 5.11%
#29 Middletown
FY 2015 Tax Rates Per $1,000 in Value
Residential:$16.07
Commercial: $21.34
Personal Property: $16.07
Motor Vehicle: $16.05
Tax Cost for Residents
Taxes for a Single Family Home Valued at $215,000: $3,455.05
For a 2008 Honda Accord: $243.16
Total Taxes as a % of Median Income: 5.23%
#28 Exeter
FY 2015 Tax Rates Per $1,000 in Value
Residential: $14.63
Commercial: $14.63
Personal Property: $14.63
Motor Vehicle: $32.59
Tax Cost for Residents
Taxes for a Single Family Home Valued at $215,000: $3,145.45
For a 2008 Honda Accord: $493.74
Total Taxes as a % of Median Income: 3.82%
#27 Tiverton
FY 2015 Tax Rates Per $1,000 in Value
Residential: $19.30
Commercial: $19.30
Personal Property: $19.30
Motor Vehicle: $19.14
Tax Cost for Residents
Taxes for a Single Family Home Valued at $215,000: $4,149.50
For a 2008 Honda Accord: $289.97
Total Taxes as a % of Median Income: 6.46%
#26 North Kingstown
FY 2015 Tax Rates Per $1,000 in Value
Residential: $18.91
Commercial: $18.91
Personal Property: $18.91
Motor Vehicle: $22.04
Tax Cost for Residents
Taxes for a Single Family Home Valued at $215,000: $4,065.65
For a 2008 Honda Accord: $333.91
Total Taxes as a % of Median Income: 5.49%
#25 Richmond
FY 2015 Tax Rates Per $1,000 in Value
Residential: $20.94
Commercial: $20.94
Personal Property: $20.94
Motor Vehicle: $22.64
Tax Cost for Residents
Taxes for a Single Family Home Valued at $215,000: $4,502.10
For a 2008 Honda Accord: $343.00
Total Taxes as a % of Median Income: 5.88%
Notes:
1. Motor vehicles are assessed at 80 percent of value. This is reflected in the community's ranking
2. Richmond had a revaluation or statistical update effective Dec. 31, 2013
#24 Hopkinton
FY 2015 Tax Rates Per $1,000 in Value
Residential: $20.64
Commercial: $20.64
Personal Property: $20.64
Motor Vehicle: $21.18
Tax Cost for Residents
Taxes for a Single Family Home Valued at $215,000: $4,437.60
For a 2008 Honda Accord: $320.88
Total Taxes as a % of Median Income: 7.13%
Note: Hopkinton had a revaluation or statistical update effective Dec. 31, 2013
#23 Cumberland
FY 2015 Tax Rates Per $1,000 in Value
Residential: $17.08
Commercial: $17.08
Personal Property: $29.53
Motor Vehicle: $19.87
Tax Cost for Residents
Taxes for a Single Family Home Valued at $215,000: $3,672.20
For a 2008 Honda Accord: $301.03
Total Taxes as a % of Median Income: 5.42%
Note: Cumberland had a revaluation or statistical update effective Dec. 31, 2013
#22 Coventry
FY 2015 Tax Rates Per $1,000 in Value
Residential: $20.40
Commercial: $24.58
Personal Property: $20.40
Motor Vehicle: $18.75
Tax Cost for Residents
Taxes for a Single Family Home Valued at $215,000: $4,386.00
For a 2008 Honda Accord: $284.06
Total Taxes as a % of Median Income: 7.12%
Note: Coventry had a revaluation or statistical update effective Dec. 31, 2013
#21 Warren
FY 2015 Tax Rates Per $1,000 in Value
Residential: $20.07
Commercial: $20.07
Personal Property: $20.07
Motor Vehicle:$26.00
Tax Cost for Residents
Taxes for a Single Family Home Valued at $215,000: $4,315.05
For a 2008 Honda accord: $393.90
Total Taxes as a % of Median Income: 8.62%
#20 East Greenwich
FY 2015 Tax Rates Per $1,000 in Value
Residential: $23.26
Commercial: $23.26
Personal Property: $23.26
Motor Vehicle: $22.88
Tax Cost for Residents
Taxes for a Single Family Home Valued at $215,000: $5,000.90
For a 2008 Honda accord: $346.63
Total Taxes as a % of Median Income: 5.48%
#19 Burrillville
FY 2015 Tax Rates Per $1,000 in Value
Residential: $18.88
Commercial: $18.88
Personal Property: $18.88
Motor Vehicle: $40.00
Tax Cost for Residents
Taxes for a Single Family Home Valued at $215,000: $4,059.20
For a 2008 Honda Accord: $606.00
Total Taxes as a % of Median Income: 7.01%
#18 Barrington
FY 2015 Tax Rates Per $1,000 in Value
Residential: $18.30
Commercial: $18.30
Personal Property: $18.30
Motor Vehicle: $42.00
Tax Cost for Residents
Taxes for a Single Family Home Valued at $215,000: $3,934.50
For a 2008 Honda Accord: $636.30
Total Taxes as a % of Median Income: 4.43%
#17 West Greenwich
FY 2015 Tax Rates Per $1,000 in Value
Residential: $22.55
Commercial: $22.55
Personal Property:$33.85
Motor Vehicle: $19.02
Tax Cost for Residents
Taxes for a Single Family Home Valued at $215,000: $4,848.25
For a 2008 Honda Accord: $288.15
Total Taxes as a % of Median Income: 6.36%
Notes:
1. Does not include rate for vacant land which is $16.07
2. West Greenwich has a homestead exemption
3. West Greenwich had a revaluation or statistical update effective Dec. 31, 2013
#16 Foster
FY 2015 Tax Rates Per $1,000 in Value
Residential: $21.06
Commercial: $21.06
Personal Property: $28.96
Motor Vehicle: $36.95
Tax Cost for Residents
Taxes for a Single Family Home Valued at $215,000: $4,527.90
For a 2008 Honda Accord: $559.79
Total Taxes as a % of Median Income: 6.26%
#15 Scituate
FY 2015 Tax Rates Per $1,000 in Value
Residential: $18.98
Commercial: $21.94
Personal Property: $40.38
Motor Vehicle: $30.20
Tax Cost for Residents
Taxes for a Single Family Home Valued at $215,000: $4,080.70
For a 2008 Honda Accord: $457.53
Total Taxes as a % of Median Income: 5.52%
Note: Motor vehicles are assessed at 95 percent of value. This is reflected in the community's ranking.
#14 North Smithfield
FY 2015 Tax Rates Per $1,000 in Value
Residential: $16.02
Commercial: $17.77
Personal Property: $42.80
Motor Vehicle: $37.62
Tax Cost for Residents
Taxes for a Single Family Home Valued at $215,000: $3,444.30
For a 2008 Honda Accord: $569.94
Total Taxes as a % of Median Income: 5.21%
#13 Glocester
FY 2015 Tax Rates Per $1,000 in Value
Residential: $21.77
Commercial: $24.74
Personal Property: $43.34
Motor Vehicle: $24.37
Tax Cost for Residents
Taxes for a Single Family Home Valued at $215,000: $4,680.55
For a 2008 Honda Accord: $369.21
Total Taxes as a % of Median Income: 6.31%
Note: Glocester had a revaluation or statistical update effective Dec. 31, 2013
#12 Lincoln
FY 2015 Tax Rates Per $1,000 in Value
Residential: $23.57
Commercial: $26.94
Personal Property: $37.02
Motor Vehicle: $30.66
Tax Cost for Residents
Taxes for a Single Family Home Valued at $215,000: $5,067.55
For a 2008 Honda Accord: $464.50
Total Taxes as a % of Median Income: 7.33%
Note: Lincoln Has a homestead exemption.
#11 Warwick
FY 2015 Tax Rates Per $1,000 in Value
Residential: $20.06
Commercial: $30.09
Personal Property: $40.12
Motor Vehicle: $34.60
Tax Cost for Residents
Taxes for a Single Family Home Valued at $215,000: $4,312.90
For a 2008 Honda Accord: $524.19
Total Taxes as a % of Median Income: 7.93%
#10 West Warwick
FY 2015 Tax Rates Per $1,000 in Value
Residential:
- For apartments with 6+ units: $36.28
- For Two to Five Family buildings: $36.45
- For Single family homes: $25.3
Commercial: $30.85
Personal Property: $40.13
Motor Vehicle: $28.47
Tax Cost for Residents
Taxes for a Single Family Home Valued at $215,000: $5,458.85
For a 2008 Honda Accord: $431.32
Total Taxes as a % of Median Income: 11.46%
Note: For rankng purposes, an average of the three residential rates was used.
#9 Smithfield
FY 2015 Tax Rates Per $1,000 in Value
Residential: $17.13
Commercial: $17.13
Personal Property: $59.70
Motor Vehicle: $39.00
Tax Cost for Residents
Taxes for a Single Family Home Valued at $215,000: $3,682.95
For a 2008 Honda Accord: $590.85
Total Taxes as a % of Median Income: 5.89%
#8 Cranston
FY 2015 Tax Rates Per $1,000 in Value
Residential: $22.84
Commercial: $34.26
Personal Property: $34.26
Motor Vehicle: $42.44
Tax Cost for Residents
Taxes for a Single Family Home Valued at $215,000: $4,910.60
For a 2008 Honda Accord: $642.97
Total Taxes as a % of Median Income: 9.45%
#7 East Providence
FY 2015 Tax Rates Per $1,000 in Value
Residential: $22.95
Commercial: $25.40
Personal Property: $56.67
Motor Vehicle: $37.10
Tax Cost for Residents
Taxes for a Single Family Home Valued at $215,000: $4,934.25
For a 2008 Honda Accord: $562.07
Total Taxes as a % of Median Income:11.09%
Notes:
1. Rates are for FY 2014
2. East Providence has homestead exemptions
#6 Johnston
FY 2015 Tax Rates Per $1,000 in Value
Residential: $28.75
Commercial: $28.75
Personal Property: $59.22
Motor Vehicle: $41.46
Tax Cost for Residents
Taxes for a Single Family Home Valued at $215,000: $6,181.25
For a 2008 Honda Accord: $628.12
Total Taxes as a % of Median Income: 11.99%
Note: Johnston has homestead exemptions
#5 Pawtucket
FY 2015 Tax Rates Per $1,000 in Value
Residential: $23.06
Commercial: $30.88
Personal Property: $52.09
Motor Vehicle: $53.30
Tax Cost for Residents
Taxes for a Single Family Home Valued at $215,000: $4,957.90
For a 2008 Honda Accord: $807.50
Total Taxes as a % of Median Income: 14.28%
#4 Woonsocket
FY 2015 Tax Rates Per $1,000 in Value
Residential: $35.94
Commercial: $39.99
Personal Property: $46.58
Motor Vehicle: $46.58
Tax Cost for Residents
Taxes for a Single Family Home Valued at $215,000: $7,727.10
For a 2008 Honda Accord: $705.69
Total Taxes as a % of Median Income: 21.99%
Note: Woonsocket has homestead exemptions
#3 North Providence
FY 2015 Tax Rates Per $1,000 in Value
Residential: $27.94
Commercial: $34.68
Personal Property: $69.91
Motor Vehicle: $41.95
Tax Cost for Residents
Taxes for a Single Family Home Valued at $215,000: $6,007.10
For a 2008 Honda Accord: $635.54
Total Taxes as a % of Median Income: 13.04%
Notes:
1. North Providence has homestead exemptions
2. North Providence had a revaluation or statistical update effective Dec. 31, 2013
#2 Providence
FY 2015 Tax Rates Per $1,000 in Value
Residential:
- For owner-occupied residential property: $19.25
- For non-owner-occupied residential property: $33.75
Commercial: $36.75
Personal Property: $55.80
Motor Vehicle: $60.00
Tax Cost for Residents
Taxes for a Single Family Home Valued at $215,000: $4,138.75
For a 2008 Honda Accord: $909.00
Total Taxes as a % of Median Income: 13.20%
Note: For ranking purposes, the average of two residential rates was used
#1 Central Falls
FY 2015 Tax Rates Per $1,000 in Value
Residential: $27.26
Commercial: $39.48
Personal Property: $73.11
Motor Vehicle: $48.65
Tax Cost for Residents
Taxes for a Single Family Home Valued at $215,000: $5,860.90
For a 2008 Honda Accord: $737.05
Total Taxes as a % of Median Income: 22.54%
Note: Central Falls has homestead exemptions
