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Committee approves $133,164.20 in abatements; staff cites billing errors and low-income homeowners
Summary
Pawtucket’s finance committee approved $133,164.20 in tax abatements for July–September 2025, with staff describing many recipients as low-income or elderly and citing a computer posting error for a Section 8 property and a court settlement affecting one shopping center.
The Pawtucket Finance Committee voted unanimously to approve a resolution authorizing tax abatements for motor vehicles, real estate and tangible personal property for July, August and September 2025 totaling $133,164.20.
Councilor Moran moved to take up the item and Councilor Rubio seconded. Staff explained the total covers the first three quarters of the 2025 billing period and includes multiple routine adjustments for homeowners who are ill or low-income.
A staff member described the typical circumstances of many entries: "people that, get just Social Security, maybe $12,000 a year, try and hold on to the house," and said staff attempts to keep adjustments consistent for returning cases and offers payment plans when appropriate.
Staff also identified larger, non-household items affecting the total: Branch Blackstone Limited Partnership (a Section 8 property at 30 Branch Street) required an adjustment after a computer posting error caused a bill that should have been about $20,000 to appear as $75,000; staff said the correction reflects the 8% rent-law calculation. Another line arose from a multi-year court settlement with Amalgamated Financial Group related to the Beverage Hill Shopping Center that the office has been billing quarterly and expects will end this year.
Council members thanked staff for assisting vulnerable taxpayers. Councilor Moran said, "I really do appreciate you taking that time with those people," before the committee took a roll-call vote that recorded the measure as approved, 3–0.
The committee adjourned with no further business.
