East Greenwich: No Property Tax Hike For Second Year Running

EAST GREENWICH, RI — East Greenwich homeowners pay some of the biggest property tax bills in Rhode Island, but the taxes will not go up this year, according to a message from Town Manager Gail Corrigan. Corrigan's message addressed to the residents said the town council on Wednesday approved a $62.2 million budget for Fiscal Year 2019, which starts July 1. The consolidated budget includes $35.1 million for the schools as well as $27.1 million to run the municipal government and does not require taking on new debt. It also covers $1.2 million for firefighters' overtime, which has been a controversial topic.

Council President Sue Cienki said the 2016-2019 collective bargaining agreement with the fire department had locked the Town into paying "for this level of spending," but she added the overtime costs are unsustainable, and the town manager will continue to look for ways to cut costs.

The bottom line is the real estate tax rate is being set at $23 per thousand valuation. For the median single-family homeowner, that means a tax bill of $9,573.

According to the Fiscal Times website, the median home value in 2018 in Rhode Island was $227,000 and the median tax bill was $3,872.

"East Greenwich taxpayers have said enough is enough, and we have heard them loud and clear," Cienki said. "We have worked very hard over the past few years to make sure we are being fiscally responsible to taxpayers. At the same time we continue to ensure that we have one of the top school systems in the state and to provide the services our residents demand and expect."

Last year, East Greenwich was one of a handful of Rhode Island communities that did not raise taxes. East Greenwich and Middletown held the line and had no increase. Woonsocket and Tiverton lowered property taxes.

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