2009 Rhode Island Code
Title 44 - Taxation
CHAPTER 44-5 - Levy and Assessment of Local Taxes
§ 44-5-11.6 - Assessment of valuations – Apportionment of levies.

SECTION 44-5-11.6

   § 44-5-11.6  Assessment of valuations – Apportionment of levies. – (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of § 44-5-11 [repealed], beginning on December 31, 2000, the assessors in the several towns and cities shall conduct an update as defined in this section or shall assess all valuations and apportion the levy of all taxes legally ordered under the rules and regulations, not repugnant to law, as the town meetings and city councils, respectively, shall from time to time prescribe; provided, that the update or valuation is performed in accordance with the following schedules:

   (1) For a transition period, for cities and towns who conducted or implemented a revaluation as of 1993 or in years later:

   SEE THE BOOK FOR THE PROPER TABLE.

   (ii) Provided that the reevaluation period for the town of New Shoreham shall be extended to 2003 and the update for the town of Hopkinton may be extended to 2007 with no additional reimbursements by the state relating to the delay.

   (iii) The implementation date for this schedule is December 31st, of the stated year.

   (iv) Those cities and towns not listed in this schedule, shall continue the revaluation schedule pursuant to § 44-5-11 [repealed].

   (2) For the post transition period and in years thereafter:

   SEE THE BOOK FOR THE PROPER TABLE.

   (ii) The implementation date for the schedule is December 31st of the stated year. Upon the completion of the update and revaluation according to this schedule, each city and town shall conduct a revaluation within nine (9) years of the date of the prior revaluation and shall conduct an update of real property every three (3) years from the last revaluation.

   (b) No later than February 1, 1998, the director of the department of revenue shall promulgate rules and regulations consistent with the provisions of this section to define the requirements for the updates which shall include, but not be limited to:

   (1) An analysis of sales;

   (2) A rebuilding of land value tables;

   (3) A rebuilding of cost tables of all improvement items; and

   (4) A rebuilding of depreciation schedules.

   Upon completion of an update, each city or town shall provide for a hearing and/or appeal process for any aggrieved person to address any issue, which arose during the update.

   (c) The costs incurred by the towns and cities for the first update shall be borne by the state in an amount not to exceed twenty dollars ($20.00) per parcel. The costs incurred by the towns and cities for the second update shall be borne eighty percent (80%) by the state (in an amount not to exceed sixteen dollars ($16.00) per parcel) and twenty percent (20%) by the town or city and in the third update and thereafter, the state shall pay sixty percent (60%) of the update (not to exceed twelve dollars ($12.00) per parcel) and the town or city shall pay forty percent (40%); provided, that for the second update and in all updates thereafter, that the costs incurred by any city or town which is determined to be a distressed community pursuant to § 45-13-12 shall be borne eighty percent (80%) by the state and twenty percent (20%) by the city or town for all updates required by this section.

   (d) The office of municipal affairs, after consultation with the league of cities and towns and the Rhode Island assessors' association, shall recommend adjustments to the costs formula described in subsection (c) of this section based upon existing market conditions.

   (e) Any property, which is either exempt from the local property tax pursuant to § 44-3-3 or which pays a city or town an amount in lieu of taxes, is not required to have its values updated pursuant to this section, and the property is not eligible for the reimbursement provisions of subsection (c) of this section. However, those properties which are exempt from taxation and are eligible for state appropriations in lieu of property tax under the provisions of § 45-13-5.1 are eligible for state reimbursement pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, provided, that these properties were revalued as part of that city or town's most recent property revaluation.

   (f) No city or town is required to conduct an update pursuant to this section unless the state has appropriated sufficient funds to cover the state's costs as identified in subsection (c) of this section.

   (g) Any city or town that fails to conduct an update or revaluation as required by this section, or requests and receives an extension of the dates specified in this section, shall receive the same amount of state aid under §§ 45-13-1, 45-13-5.1, and 45-13-12 in the budget year for which the new values were to apply as the city or town received in-state aid in the previous budget year; provided, however, if the new year's entitlement is lower than the prior year's entitlement, the lower amount applies, except for the town of New Shoreham for the fiscal year 2003.

   (h) Any bill or resolution to extend the dates for a city or town to conduct an update or revaluation must be approved by a two-thirds ( 2/3) majority of both houses of the general assembly.