TITLE 44
Taxation
CHAPTER 44-3
Property Subject to Taxation
SECTION 44-3-9.2
§ 44-3-9.2 North Smithfield
Exemption or stabilizing of taxes on qualifying property used for manufacturing
or commercial purposes.
(a) Except as provided in this section, the town council of the town of North
Smithfield may vote to authorize, for a period not to exceed ten (10) years,
and subject to the conditions provided in this section, to exempt from payment,
in whole or in part, real and personal property used for manufacturing or
commercial purposes, or to determine a stabilized amount of taxes to be paid on
account of the property, notwithstanding the valuation of the property or the
rate of tax; provided, that after public hearings, at least ten (10) days'
notice of which shall be given in a newspaper having a general circulation in
the town, the town council determines that:
(1) Granting of the exemption or stabilization of taxes will
inure to the benefit of the town by reason of:
(i) The willingness of the manufacturing or commercial firm
or concern to locate in the town; or
(ii) The willingness of a manufacturing or commercial firm or
concern to expand facilities with an increase in employment; or
(2) Granting of the exemption or stabilization of taxes will
inure to the benefit of the town by reason of the willingness of a
manufacturing or commercial firm or concern to replace, reconstruct, expand, or
remodel existing buildings, facilities, fixtures, machinery, or equipment with
modern buildings, facilities, fixtures, machinery, or equipment resulting in an
increase in plant or commercial building investment by the firm or concern in
the town.
(b) For purposes of this section, "real property used for
commercial purposes" includes any building or structure used for offices or
commercial enterprises including without limitation any building or structure
used for wholesale, warehouse, distribution, and/or storage businesses, used
for service industries, or used for any other commercial business and the land
on which the building or structure is situated and not used for residential
purposes.
(c) For purposes of this section, "personal property used for
commercial purposes" means any personal property owned by a firm or concern
occupying a building, structure, and/or land used for commercial purposes and
used by such firm or concern in its commercial enterprise including, without
limitation, furniture, fixtures, equipment, machinery, stock in trade, and
inventory.
(d) Except as provided in this section, property, the payment
of taxes on which has been so exempted or which is subject to the payment of a
stabilized amount of taxes, shall not, during the period for which the
exemption or stabilization of the amount of taxes is granted, be further liable
to taxation by the town in which the property is located so long as the
property is used for the manufacturing or commercial purposes for which the
exemption or stabilized amount of taxes was made.
(e) Notwithstanding any vote and findings by the town
council, the property shall be assessed for and shall pay that portion of the
tax, if any, assessed by the town of North Smithfield for the purpose of paying
the indebtedness of the town and the indebtedness of the state or any political
subdivision of the state to the extent assessed upon or apportioned to the
town, and the interest on the indebtedness, and for appropriation to any
sinking fund of the town, which portion of the tax shall be paid in full, and
the taxes so assessed and collected shall be kept in a separate account and
used only for that purpose.
History of Section.
(P.L. 1993, ch. 2, § 1.)