Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 44-3 - Property Subject to Taxation
Section 44-3-9.10. - Portsmouth — Exemption or stabilizing of taxes on qualified property used for manufacturing or commercial purposes in the town of Portsmouth.

§ 44-3-9.10. Portsmouth — Exemption or stabilizing of taxes on qualified property used for manufacturing or commercial purposes in the town of Portsmouth.
(a) Notwithstanding any provisions of § 44-3-9 to the contrary, except as provided in this section, the town council of the town of Portsmouth may vote to authorize, for a period not exceeding ten (10) years, and subject to the conditions provided in this section, to exempt from payment, in whole or part, real and personal property used for manufacturing or commercial purposes, or to determine a stabilized amount of taxes to be paid on account of the property, notwithstanding the valuation of the property or the rate of tax; provided, that after public hearings, at least ten (10) days’ notice of which shall be given in a newspaper of general circulation in the town, the town council determines that:
(1) Granting of the exemption or stabilization of taxes will inure to the benefit of the town by reason of:
(i) The willingness of the manufacturing or commercial concern to locate in the town; or
(ii) The willingness of a manufacturing firm to expand facilities with an increase in employment or the willingness of a commercial or manufacturing concern to retain or expand its facility in the town and not reduce its work force in the town; or
(iii) An improvement of the physical plant of the town that will result in long-term economic benefits to the town and the state.
(2) Granting of the exemption or stabilization of taxes will inure to the benefit of the town by reason of the willingness of a manufacturing or commercial firm or concern to replace, reconstruct, expand, or remodel existing buildings, facilities, fixtures, machinery, or equipment with modern buildings, facilities, fixtures, machinery, or equipment, resulting in an increase in plant or commercial building investments by the firm or concern in the town.
(b) Should the town council make the determination in subsections (a)(1)(i) through (a)(1)(iii), or subsection (a)(2), an exemption or stabilization may be granted for existing buildings, property, machinery, or facilities owned by businesses already located in the town of Portsmouth on January 1, 2016.
(c) For the purposes of this section, “real property used for manufacturing or commercial purposes” means and includes any building or structure used for offices or commercial enterprises including, without limitation, any building or structure used for wholesale, warehouse, distribution, and/or storage business, used for service industries, or used for any other commercial business, and not the land on which the building or structure is situated, and not used for residential purposes.
(d) For purposes of this section, “personal property used for manufacturing or commercial purposes” means any personal property owned by a firm or concern occupying a building, structure, and/or land used for commercial purposes and used by such firm or concern in its commercial enterprise including, without limitation, furniture, fixtures, equipment, machinery, stock in trade, and inventory.
(e) Except as provided in this section, property for which taxes have been exempted in whole or in part, or stabilized pursuant to this section, shall not, during the period for which taxes have been exempted or stabilized, be further liable to taxation by the town so long as the property is used for the manufacturing or commercial purposes for which the exemption or stabilization was granted.
(f) Notwithstanding any vote of, or findings by, the town council, the property shall be assessed for, and shall pay, that portion of the tax, if any, assessed by the town for the purpose of paying the indebtedness of the town and the indebtedness of the state or any political subdivision of the state, to the appropriation to any sinking fund of the town, which portion of the tax shall be paid in full, and the taxes so assessed and collected shall be kept in a separate account and used only for that purpose.
(g) Any application for tax exemption or stabilization submitted pursuant to this section shall be submitted before an application for development plan review is submitted to the Portsmouth planning board, as applicable, or for other such permits and/or approvals that may be required from any other town board or commission.
(h) Any tax exemption or stabilization granted by the town council pursuant to this section shall be applicable for a period beginning on the first day of the fiscal year in which the exemption or stabilization is granted.
(i) If a property owner whose property tax has been exempted or stabilized pursuant to this section becomes delinquent in the payment of its property taxes, or transfers ownership of its business, the town council shall have the authority to review and terminate the tax exemption or stabilization agreement.
(j) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to permit the exemption or stabilization provided in this section for any manufacturing or commercial concern relocating from one city or town within the state of Rhode Island to the town of Portsmouth.
History of Section.P.L. 2016, ch. 220, § 1; P.L. 2016, ch. 260, § 1.

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