Cicilline Won’t Sign Property Tax Increase
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Providence Mayor David Cicilline says he won’t sign a 3 percent property tax increase the city council approved earlier this week.
“Led by the leadership of the Finance Committee, eight members of the City Council chose to disregard the financial impact on the people of the City of Providence and passed a budget levy that imposes an unnecessary and onerous tax increase on Providence residents and repeals the non-owner occupied property tax exemption,” Cicilline said.
He said he had been “exploring every possible way” to stop the increase from taking effect, but said the city had a legal obligation to set the tax rate by July 31. “Failing to do so, according to the City Solicitor, would prevent the City from collecting tax revenue and would put City finances in jeopardy because we would be prohibited from sending out tax bills and delivering essential services to Providence families,” Cicilline said.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTSo instead of vetoing the increase, Cicilline said he would let it become law without his signature.
