Center Supports Town of Narragansett Single-tier Property Tax Plan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 14, 2016

Narragansett’s Proposed Single-tier Tax Rate a Good First Step

Providence, RI — The RI Center for Freedom and Prosperity supports the proposed single-tier tax rate plan that will be decided at the Narragansett Town Council meeting on Monday, October 17.

The Center applauds the Town’s goal to create one of the best local business climates … in a state that has the worst overall business climate in the nation. The bi-partisan plan would significantly lower the commercial tax rate and slightly raise the residential rate to equal levels.

“If town families are to achieve a better quality of life, it is essential that more and better businesses, that create more and better jobs, have a better business climate in which they can thrive,” said Mike Stenhouse, CEO for the Center. “The positive benefits of this plan clearly outweigh the arguments against it.”

Currently, commercial properties pay up to 150 percent higher than the residential, leaving Narragansett as the only Washington County locality with a split rate.

Not only would a lower commercial rate spur local economic activity, but the single-tiered rate would eliminate the practice of pitting businesses against residential property owners when future tax policy is considered. The concept of tax policy that treats everyone the same, is a fundamental precept of American governance.

The slight increase in residential rates could be directly offset by taking advantage of a discussed “homestead exemption” for year-round, owner-occupied properties; this exemption has already received enabling approval from the General Assembly, and is in the works to be reviewed and decided upon in future Town Council sessions. Further, if the town does realize growth in the commercial business community, this could lead to reduced overall tax rates for everyone.

The plan would be even stronger, according to the Center, if the commercial rate would be lowered to the existing residential rate. This could be accomplished without raising the residential rate by cutting town spending by a few percentage points.
Additional commentary on Narragansett’s single-tier tax plan can be found on The Ocean State Current, the journalism and blog website for the Center.

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