EAST PROVIDENCE — East Providence's offering of amnesty for delinquent tax payments became law last week when the City Council approved ordinances related to the matter at its Tuesday, July 18, meeting.

The Council gave its initial support of the matter at its gathering on April 4 of this year, sending resolutions to the city's General Assembly delegation seeking its creation of legislation  in support of the administration of Mayor Bob DaSilva in its quest to collect outstanding property taxes.

Required by state law, House Bill H-6165 and Senate Bill S-885 enabled East Providence to establish the amnesty program, which will offer residents in arrears relief of up to $10,000 in penalties.

The bills were sponsored by the city's entire Assembly group — Representatives Katherine Kazarian, Jennifer Boylan, Matt Dawson and Briana Henries along with Senators Valerie Lawson, Robert Britto and Pam Lauria.

According to the administration at the April Council meeting, as calculated by Tax Assessor Sarah Frew and city-side Finance Director Malcolm Moore, for back real estate taxes alone between 2005-2021 the outstanding balance owed is $19.9 million with penalties of $494,000.

As for delinquent car taxes, the number over the same time frame was put at $3.8 million of principle with $1.4 million in penalties and arrears tangible taxes, again during the same period, as $5.2 million of principle with penalties of $348,280.

DaSilva lobbied both legislative bodies to offer taxpayers a a waiver of interest and penalties up to $10,000, provided they make full and complete payments over a 60-day period from August 15, 2023-October 14, 2023.

The waiver must be requested in writing, in a designated form created by the assessor and also must be signed and dated by the payer.

The amnesty program would actually entail two separate 60-day periods, one each in Fiscal Years 2023 and 2024.