North Smithfield council sets FY2027 tax rates; average $450,000 home faces about $10 more per year

The North Smithfield Town Council voted June 25 to set tax rates for fiscal year 2027, approving rates the clerk read into the record as residential $11.572, commercial $17.008 and tangible personal property $43.632.

Council members opened and closed a public hearing before discussing three rate options staff had provided: (1) an across‑the‑board small increase on residential and commercial properties (presented as an increase of 0.073 when shown to three decimal places), (2) a plan that shifts more of the increase to commercial properties while keeping residential relief within statutory spread limits, and (3) a larger residential‑only increase. Staff walked members through arithmetic and confirmed the document uses three decimal places for tax‑rate notation to reflect “mills” calculations. The staff presentation included an example based on the town’s reported average home value of about $450,000; staff said option one would translate to roughly a $10 annual increase for that average home compared with the current rate.

After questions about decimal notation and how rates are calculated, a council member moved to set the rates as read; the motion was seconded and approved by roll call, with the members present voting to adopt the FY2027 rates. The council recorded the vote by roll call and the motion passed by the council members present.

The council did not appropriate a specific new program or hire in connection with the rate vote; rates will be applied in accordance with the town’s budget and collection procedures for FY2027. The council moved on to other agenda items following the vote.