Top Providence Legislator Pushing for City Council’s Revised Tax Structure at State House
GoLocalProv News Team
Top Providence Legislator Pushing for City Council’s Revised Tax Structure at State House
The new structure would have the effect of lowering the taxes for much of the city's homeowners, but increase the taxes for the most expensive homes and condos -- primarily of the East Side of Providence and downtown.
“I am very worried about retaining the middle class in Providence and the new structure is better for the people who live in District 7,” said McKiernan who also serves as a Municipal Court Judge in Providence.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTMcKiernan is introducing the House version of the enabling legislation this week that will allow Providence to create a two-tiered homestead structure.
“I want to see baby strollers on the sidewalk in Providence and we need a fair tax structure,” said McKiernan. He says he has heard from a number of people in his district who support the new structure over the budget submitted by Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza.
A draft of the legislation was sent to House Legislative Counsel for review and over the weekend representatives of Elorza’s office requested changes, which McKiernan said he agreed to.
McKiernan says that Elorza is opposed to the revised tax structure that shifts the tax burden to more expensive homes — primarily those assessed at over $500,000.
The vast majority of the homes are located in Wards 1, 2, and 3 — the East Side of Providence.
On Monday, more than 100 East Side residents met at the Central Congregational Church to hear from members of the Providence City Council and aspiring candidates for Mayor of Providence about the new plan.
Among those speaking in opposition to the City Council's plan was Governor Gina Raimondo's Chief of Staff Brett Smiley who's husband is a realtor on the East Side. Smiley has been seeking support for his planned run for Mayor in 2022.
East Side residents have been vocal in opposition to the new tax structure crafted by Council Finance Committee Chairman John Igliozzi and Council President Sabina Matos. The two unveiled the two-tiered structure last Thursday.
“The plan that we are proposing would give a 40% exemption for the first $350K assessed value for homeowners, and then a 28% exemption on the assessed value after that,” said Matos last week.
McKiernan said that legislation that is enabling for municipalities can be moved through the legislature faster than traditional legislation as it can circumvent certain rules.
“It would be preferable if the City Council and the Mayor were acting in unison but there is a history that the city is not always on the same page,” said McKiernan.
McKiernan said he has not spoken directly to Mattiello yet, but plans to early this week.
“This legislation is a good idea,” McKiernan said.