Riverside residents remain angered by revaluation process

Speak before East Providence City Council for third successive meeting

By Mike Rego
Posted 6/24/16

EAST PROVIDENCE — For the third successive meeting, the East Providence City Council heard the reservations of residents from the waterfront section of Riverside critical of the most recent …

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Riverside residents remain angered by revaluation process

Speak before East Providence City Council for third successive meeting

Posted

EAST PROVIDENCE — For the third successive meeting, the East Providence City Council heard the reservations of residents from the waterfront section of Riverside critical of the most recent reassessment process and the performance of Vision Government Solutions, the company charged with assisting Tax Assessor Steven Hazard in producing the new rates.

As has been the case since property tax bills were mailed out at the start of May, residents, especially those at the Riverside coast, have appeared before the council inundating the elected officials with their grievances about both the substantial rate increases and with the apparent lack of transparency in the procedures used.

Words expressed at the latest meeting, but also heard at the previous forums, included "anxiety," "fear" "unfair" and "unaffordable."

Mary Noel Mahler, of White Street, was the first speaker at the podium last week. She told the council about the rapid rise in her property value and the hardship it has created for her and others in the area. Ms. Mahler's .29-acre lot was only last year valued at $134,000. She said it was initially increased to $205,000 earlier this year then just a month ago up to $266,500 when the revaluations were finalized.

"There's been so much talk about the discrepancies in what is going on with the taxes on land, I went back and looked back at the history of my little neighborhood. It's really, really ridiculous what this company (Vision) is doing," Ms. Mahler said. "They said I missed some kind of meeting, I missed something in the mail, I missed absolutely nothing."

Ms. Mahler noted the difference between residents on the same street or neighborhood whose tax bills vary greatly depending on if their property abuts the water or not. It's been a familiar refrain for those land owners who feel most aggrieved by the process.

About the exponential rate increases, she addressed her comments to the council, "These are normal people that just put food on their table every day. It might be on the water but, please, I hope you're hearing what I'm saying…This just is not right."

Jason Rafferty, a Bluff Street resident and a leading member of the Riverside Renaissance Movement, submitted to the council a petition signed by several property owners in the area.

The petition, among other things, calls for the following: Pass an ordinance instating a tax cap preventing increases of more than 10-12% over the previous year on any given property; Restore the full 15% homestead exemption that was reduced during the Budget Commission’s oversight of EP finances; Initiate an immediate, independent review of the City’s contract with Vision Government Solutions, their process of determining assessments, and the Tax Collector’s methodology of adjusting and approving them. The process used to determine assessments needs and the accountability of those involved needs to be public.

Mr. Rafferty termed the increases, which he said ranged from 40-60 percent, "egregious." He added they were "outrageous," "unfair" and "unreasonable."

He concluded, "I think solving this on the council level will save people a lot of anxiety, a lot of hardship and a lot of stress…and a lot of money."

In response to one of the residents who spoke, Ward 2 Councilman Helder Cunha told the audience, "Councilwoman (Tracy) Capobianco and (Ward 4 Councilman) Tim Conley are working directly with Mr. (City Solicitor Tim) Chapman and they're going to be proposing something in the near future. But they have been working heavily on something for you guys."

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Mike Rego

Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.