Rhode Island House Bill H8173

Rhode Island 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/27/22
• Refer: 4/27/22
• Report Pass: 6/16/22
• Engrossed: 6/21/22
• Enrolled: 6/22/22
• Passed: 6/30/22

Caption

In Amendment Of Section 4 Of Chapter 1321 Of The Public Laws, 1915, Entitled "fixing The Time For The Election Of Officers In The Town Of Scituate" As Previously Amended By Chapter 3777 Of The Public Laws Of 1956 And Authorizing The Town Of Scituate To Change The Date Of Its Fiscal Year And Allowing The Tax Levy For A Transitional Fiscal Year To Exceed The Maximum Set Forth In Section 44-5-2.

Impact

By permitting Scituate to exceed the 4% cap for the transitional fiscal year, H8173 enables the town to take necessary financial actions to adapt to its new fiscal year calendar. This change may have significant implications for local governance and budgeting procedures, allowing greater flexibility in funding for various public services and infrastructure projects. The bill ensures that the town remains financially viable during the transition, which could also influence local taxpayer sentiments toward municipal fiscal policies.

Summary

House Bill H8173 amends Section 4 of Chapter 1321 of the Public Laws of 1915, specifically addressing the scheduling of the annual town meeting for the Town of Scituate. This bill authorizes a shift in the date of the annual financial town meeting to the first Tuesday in June each year starting from 2024. An important aspect of this legislation is that it allows the town to manage budgeting and tax levies for a transitional fiscal year that covers a unique sixteen-month period from April 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024. Furthermore, it gives the town the authority to exceed the usual tax levy limits set forth in § 44-5-2, which typically caps increases at 4%.

Contention

While there seems to be no documented opposition regarding H8173, it reflects a broader debate about local governance flexibility and financial management capabilities. Proponents might argue that such changes are crucial to modernizing fiscal governance to reflect contemporary financial realities and needs. There may be concerns about the long-term effects of allowing towns to exceed tax levies, potentially setting precedents for future fiscal policies that could impact taxpayers and public accountability.