[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6088237,"mediaKeyId","2884820-d13f9addad434b4052d1e0d3e478c623","parentId",2884820,"title","Council narrows 2025 legislative priorities: landing fee, property-tax tools, school funding and infrastructure","audioSeconds",5515,"startMs",2158000,"endMs",7673000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2884820-d13f9addad434b4052d1e0d3e478c623&start=2158&end=7673","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2884820-d13f9addad434b4052d1e0d3e478c623/thumbnail_2158000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6088237/New-Shoreham/Washington-County/Rhode-Island/Council-narrows-2025-legislative-priorities-landing-fee-property-tax-tools-school-funding-and-infrastructure","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6088237-06fc17486843d1d22dcea0de7f85d5b2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188549&Signature=jI-9hVY9Aw53X8zR~hUvJHlhOEkoYRX46OZZBWO-uuHle2Fg0OPGeRJLOFbCl37fMlZLz6TaRRe0QwxR~9iN9byBkutnSU7oPI4~2~uVXP1CIj9dwo5o5zh57GKZnrvEEM09kF9g~vyVmIa9lNODpG-DcbXTt07HAG1dBDihi45IqzshjlA8mTgp3FMGp2V2vVhWeB54TKYcXWzs2tK~22mWwMX4Q-wfGrTSzfWvuzCrQGS9UtVZtvl1ja2RiTGS9vQbkG9zwlBKSnq2F-bYxw6VeIkuWH2kqiIdI4OsW4YooPYL8MYrB9sSwuW8r3AlxfWH47Pc3Zjhb03rLohHmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of New Shoreham","date","2025-02-05T00:00:00Z","article","The New Shoreham Town Council spent the bulk of its meeting on Wednesday discussing a proposed 2025 legislative agenda that would seek state action and administrative change on several fronts: a ferry landing fee, greater recognition for host communities before the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), enabling legislation that would allow refined local property-tax tools, a school‑funding minimum, expanded housing funding for small communities, and more aggressive engagement with state agencies on DOT infrastructure and sea-level rise grants.

Councilor Keith (councilor) opened the agenda discussion by proposing three ferry-related priorities: (1) exempting year‑round residents from a landing fee or making the fee seasonal; (2) increasing the landing fee so it is a meaningful user fee (a $5-per-ticket increase was suggested multiple times by speakers and Harbor Committee members); and (3) commissioning a neutral study of whether a port authority would benefit the town, funded by state, federal or private grants. Patrick Evans (Harbors Committee) later confirmed the committee's support for a $5 landing-fee increase in testimony to the council.

Several council members said host communities — notably New Shoreham and Narragansett — should have greater standing with the PUC because they shoulder both costs and benefits from ferry operations. Staff described existing PUC practice as giving notice to host communities but representing statewide interests; some council members said statutory clarification could strengthen local input on schedules, routes and operations.

On property taxes, the council discussed pursuing enabling legislation to allow a municipal mix of tools: (a) commercial/residential differentials; (b) tax incentives or refined exemptions for year‑round rentals that provide long‑term housing; and (c) a local tool addressing accessory dwelling units (referred to in the meeting as \u001c5‑13s\u001d). Amy (town staff) said two of those changes can be enabled by pending bills other towns are filing and the council could \"piggyback\"; the accessory‑unit tool would likely require town‑specific language.

Education funding also drew sustained comment. Councilors noted New Shoreham received only modest state aid for its school (figures discussed ranged from about $60,000 in a recent year to roughly $84,000 in earlier comments), and several members recommended seeking a floor in the school‑funding formula so the town's small student population and high per‑capita needs are not left at the bottom of the distribution.

Housing and funding were recurring themes. Cindy (Block Island Housing Board) and Chris Forfel said the housing board needs more revenue to meet local affordable‑housing goals; Cindy noted the board has statutory authority to issue up to $2 million in bonds but that debt service would strain current annual receipts. The housing board recommended that short‑term rental licensing fees be considered as a dedicated housing revenue source; the board estimated licensing could generate roughly $80,000–$100,000 annually and urged the council to include that funding approach in budget and legislative planning.

Councilors called for a more aggressive posture with the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (DOT) and Department of Environmental Management (DEM) on local roads, culverts and waterfront infrastructure. Amy said the town is preparing a TIPs (transportation improvement program) application that will prioritize the five town facilities in worst condition for state consideration.

Other items raised during the legislative-agenda discussion included sea‑level rise planning and grant funding to hire professional planners/engineers, and wildlife control: one councilor urged more active measures to reduce the deer herd because of ecological damage and vehicle collisions. Several councilors said they would refine the list and invite the town's state senator and representative to a future meeting for input.

The council voted to place the landing-fee update on the town's legislative agenda (motion seconded and approved during the meeting); specific fee amounts and collection mechanisms will be discussed with legislators and stakeholders in coming meetings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town Council 2/5/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Councilors prioritized a 2025 legislative agenda that includes a ferry landing fee, new enabling authority for local property-tax tools, a school‑funding floor, more housing funding for small communities and increased engagement with DOT on road and harbor repairs.","taxTitle","New Shoreham, Washington County, Rhode Island","taxId",79696,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6088242,"New Shoreham council hears refresher on lodging taxes, cottage fee and housing-board collections",1553,604000,2157000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2884820-d13f9addad434b4052d1e0d3e478c623&start=604&end=2157","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2884820-d13f9addad434b4052d1e0d3e478c623/thumbnail_604000.jpg","/articles/6088242/New-Shoreham/Washington-County/Rhode-Island/New-Shoreham-council-hears-refresher-on-lodging-taxes-cottage-fee-and-housing-board-collections","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6088242-9bd975d0d7e386fee46b9dafa87c5d3f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188549&Signature=ou2p--vTZHUUqJtAPRBnUThTJGvzuSpbbmirbM4QJA5VhxVgm~Lfw9jqXJJLw57e71GFw1rGk9OLFPo1V0kGn1Vqpn36TCaUK7~qRbdo99Bqv083FFeAJy1IGdgb4u2~xo7RHIX8DMxUtbygAQDDZtzfXrxUVIxZXpIodkFkKR8uwSD9wLnQr5ED6FlIvmUkEYfwlvAyg8rqObBpgvOr0pqu0f1L1UysdEbTc-Q4Ee12TgNPU8wOUlQ82DF-KXVA38R1Pxmiyqu~dmV4dxz1I42Zp0~Pw9quMTiJ4kFHye~48iNePoo4bFXbGMRUNE3PW5MbMu8X-9D8TWvajL6ZpQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town staff walked the New Shoreham Town Council through the mechanics of the island's lodging taxes on Wednesday, clarifying how the tax on hotel rooms and whole-house rentals is collected and distributed and describing how the Block Island Housing Board's 1% fee is enforced.

Amy (town staff) told the council a typical hotel room on Block Island carries a 13% total tax: 7% state sales tax, a 5% state hotel tax that is split among four recipients, and a 1% local hotel tax remitted to the town. She said the 5% hotel tax is divided as follows: 25% to the host town, 5% to the convention center/visitors bureau, 45% to the tourism council and 25% to commerce (state-level disbursements). Amy also explained that whole-house rentals (cottage rentals) remain subject to the 7% state sales tax plus a separate 1% town tax (commonly referred to locally as the cottage tax) and an additional 1% housing-board fee in some cases.

The housing-board fee and enforcement were the focus of several questions. Cindy (Block Island Housing Board) said the 1% housing-board charge is a tax authorized by state enabling legislation and is not voluntary. Cindy and other speakers said the town and housing board can track who has paid, but until now officials had not aggressively pursued noncompliance; the council was told proof of payment will be required for short-term rental license renewal beginning next year.

Chris Forfel (housing board member and resident) and other residents urged the council to direct lodging-related funds toward housing needs if the legislature changes the distribution of the state's hotel tax. Gustave Willie of the Block Island Tourism Council and a local business owner described the sums involved and warned that raising the local effective tax on whole-house rentals to parity with hotel rooms would significantly affect rental business and customers.

Amy referenced a Division of Taxation report showing aggregate local lodging receipts rose from about $575,000 in 2020 to roughly $812,000 in 2024. She and other staff noted the monthly totals can show spikes or corrections and that division-level reporting sometimes lacks the underlying transaction detail the town would need for deeper auditing.

Council members and public speakers discussed collection mechanics: real-estate firms and online platforms often collect and remit the 7% sales tax, while the housing-board 1% is generally remitted by property owners or local agents to the housing board. Amy said the town will strengthen collection by tying proof of payment to short-term rental license renewal.

The presentation underscored that Block Island is among the larger contributors statewide to lodging-tax receipts and that proposed state-level changes to hotel tax distribution could materially affect the town's revenues and local housing funding options.

The council did not take a formal vote on any lodging-tax changes during the meeting.","Town staff reviewed how hotel and short-term rental taxes are split among state and local recipients, explained the housing board's 1% fee is a tax (not voluntary), and described new compliance steps tied to short-term rental licensing.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6088234,"Council approves May Fourth Group lobbyist contract after divided debate, 3‑2",1974,7671000,9645000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2884820-d13f9addad434b4052d1e0d3e478c623&start=7671&end=9645","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2884820-d13f9addad434b4052d1e0d3e478c623/thumbnail_7671000.jpg","/articles/6088234/New-Shoreham/Washington-County/Rhode-Island/Council-approves-May-Fourth-Group-lobbyist-contract-after-divided-debate-32","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6088234-0137e638a5d0480c6f1e5539a5a968d6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188549&Signature=A6iDwo~mRdyGi62TnP1wn2hLRiJxad6ZTAJHXRzDZn5QOb8IQdSFt97VzGVbltckLtChVX7sGrN-FVdasUQ0IQXIr4vHCqVTpaQZWH-QFsZXW6fRfIS1X5TRxN7jYamM4t-YbgKtRIBLBTZg0MdX0RW6pHm2tvr~utYd8xPiS00CSyfMjsIJShInQywmGZy3JKyAhcDmXpu3XGLNI41tas7QFTylDt91O7TgvnwDR0HaJVhHjyVDblUbygR7Z1-YPbiRHAVNzw5OcgM7l-~FFnG5oRpeUkoGtsQ6NqYs8eMsfKuYM3C9XNrQgefPPk5fIic3zSbE60-MujapfUte7w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town Council approved an agreement with consultancy May Fourth Group to provide lobbyist services after a contested debate that split the board 3–2.

The contract's monthly fee of $4,500 was discussed extensively during the meeting; opponents argued the $54,000 annual cost is large for a small town amid projected statewide budget constraints, and suggested the town's state senator and representative should be relied upon instead. Supporters said the firm's day‑to‑day presence in Providence, the firm's recent work securing grants and legislative support, and the difficulty of maintaining a continuous in‑state presence from the island justify the expense.

Councilors in favor cited recent results obtained with lobbyist assistance, including grant funding that benefited the town and housing board efforts, and emphasized that other stakeholders and nearby municipalities maintain such representation in Providence. Opponents said they preferred to first exhaust direct engagement with state legislators and the League of Cities and Towns given the current fiscal picture.

The motion to approve the agreement was moved and seconded during the meeting; the roll call vote was not read into the transcript by name, but the clerk announced the outcome as a 3–2 approval. Staff later confirmed the contract commenced in January and the council will pay for eleven months under the current arrangement.

Following the vote, councilors directed staff to coordinate the lobbyist firm's priorities with the council's updated 2025 legislative agenda and to ensure the town manager and department heads serve as the firm's primary contacts for operational direction.","After extended debate over cost and value, the council voted 3–2 to approve a contract with the May Fourth Group for lobbyist services (contract rate discussed at $4,500/month; annualized roughly $54,000). Supporters said a dedicated presence in Providence yields large returns; opponents cited the town's budget pressures.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council narrows 2025 legislative priorities: landing fee, property-tax tools, school funding and infrastructure

New Shoreham council hears refresher on lodging taxes, cottage fee and housing-board collections

Council approves May Fourth Group lobbyist contract after divided debate, 3‑2