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Veterans property-tax exemption bill advances in state legislature, Providence commission says
Summary
Council staff told the Providence Veterans Commission that companion bills to expand a veterans tax exemption are on the state consent calendars and could pass within days; if enacted, the law would let the city set exemption amounts by ordinance or resolution and the commission and city budget office would determine any increase.
Aaron Easter Gardner, council staff, told the Providence City Veterans Commission that companion bills to expand the city’s veterans property-tax exemption are moving through the Rhode Island General Assembly and are expected to be placed on the consent calendar.
“Both bills are in in the senate it's senate bill 720 and the house is 5307,” Easter Gardner said. “They're scheduled to be passed in concurrence so they're going to be put on the house and senate consent calendar and they should pass, likely this week or early next week.”
The commission discussed what passage would mean locally: the state bills would authorize the city to set the exemption amount by ordinance or resolution. That authority would allow Providence to increase the exemption beyond current levels if the city council and mayor approve changes in the city budget.
Commissioners and staff said the local intent is to increase the exemption substantially. Easter Gardner and other speakers described the likely change as roughly a doubling of the existing benefit, but they did not provide a final dollar figure to the commission. Tricia Pedrelli, who helped draft the legislation, said she was pleased to see the bills advance to the final stage in the legislature.
Commission members emphasized that the city would not implement any new exemption amount until the General Assembly and the governor complete the legislative process and Providence’s governing bodies adopt a local ordinance or resolution setting the specific amount and reflecting budget capacity. The commission also discussed coordinating a ceremonial signing should the governor include the bills in a veterans package.
Next steps for the commission: wait for the state bills to be enacted and then work with city council and the mayor’s office to place any authorized exemption into the municipal budget and an implementing ordinance or resolution. The commission did not record a formal vote on the legislation; the discussion was an informational update from council staff.
