Council backs state exemption request for Mount Saint Rita Health Center after filing error

The Cumberland Town Council voted 7–0 to approve a resolution asking the Rhode Island General Assembly to exempt Mount Saint Rita Health Center from local property and tangible personal‑property taxes after a sponsorship filing error left the facility’s tax status unclear.

Patricia Viera, chair of Mount Saint Rita’s board of trustees, told the council the center had paid ‘‘$225,670…to date’’ in personal‑property taxes and that the facility faces a newly identified real‑estate tax liability following a change in sponsorship several years ago. Viera said state legislation under title 44 would eliminate those obligations and help sustain the nonprofit long‑term‑care facility that serves many local residents.

Councilors pressed for details about the amounts and the mechanics of relief. Councilor Suite and other members acknowledged the policy tradeoffs—tax relief shifts revenue responsibility—but said losing a local skilled‑nursing facility would carry downstream costs for emergency services and patient transport. The town solicitor and tax assessor said the council’s role was to express support; any exemption itself must come from state law.

Before the resolution is forwarded to the legislature, councilors requested that the town solicitor review the draft language and coordinate with the state representatives who plan to sponsor the bill. The resolution passed unanimously; supporters said it is intended to enable the legislature to act, not to itself change municipal tax law.

Next steps: the council will receive the proposed legislative language from the sponsor’s office and the town solicitor will review it before the council’s final transmission to the state.