House OKs Central Coventry Fire District Bill

The House of Representatives Thursday approved legislation that will give the Central Coventry Fire District a little more time to address and rectify its financial problems.

Passed today on the House floor, with the recommendation of the House Committee on Finance, was legislation, 2013-H 5176A, that will keep the fire district in business using the previous year’s budget while the district works to develop a new budget, new tax assessment and collection of taxes by September 1.

“The bill approved today will buy the Central Coventry Fire District a little more time to work out its financial situation and, most importantly, ensure that residents of the district can continue to receive the kind of fire and rescue protection they have come to depend on,” said Rep. Scott J. Guthrie (D-Dist. 28, Coventry), prime sponsor of the bill.

The bill specifically authorizes the fire district to continue to operate under the tax levy last authorized by the district’s voters. That authorization would expire on September 1, if district voters have not approved a new budget by then.

The district is continuing to operate, at present, as a result of a which, when approved, was expected to keep the district operating for a few weeks. The district is in receivership because voters have rejected proposed new budgets and is under the supervision of a Superior Court judge and court-appointed special master.

The district still faces liquidation if it cannot resolve its budget problems by the September 1 cutoff date in the bill approved today.

“I have continued to push forward, as the courts have requested, to find a means to resolve the fire district’s financial situation, and I believe that this legislation is the right way to move at this time,” said Representative Guthrie. “With the extra time now made available to the fire district to address its financial situation, we hope to achieve the best answer for residents and ratepayers, as quickly as possible.”

That bill now goes to the Senate for consideration. Co-sponsors are Rep. Lisa P. Tomasso (D-Dist. 29, Coventry, West Greenwich) and Rep. Patricia A. Serpa (D-Dist. 27, West Warwick, Coventry, Warwick).