Providence City Council considers reimposing tax surcharge on unused properties

PROVIDENCE — Providence might once again impose a 10-percent property tax surcharge on owners of vacant or abandoned property, if an ordinance adopted Tuesday by the City Council’s Committee on Finance is also approved by the full council.

The added tax, called a “real estate non-utilization tax,” was first enacted in 2008, but it had a “sunset” provision and expired in 2011, according to Billy Kepner, director of communications for the council.

The entire City Council would also have to approve the ordinance again before it could go back into effect, according to Emily Martineau, the council’s chief of staff.

According to Martineau, finance committee members heard testimony Tuesday from Jeffrey L. Lykins of the city’s Department of Inspections and Standards, who said that most of the city’s vacant and abandoned vacant/abandoned buildings are owned or were last owned by banks.

Read more: http://www.providencejournal.com/news/20180718/providence-city-council-considers-reimposing-tax-surcharge-on-unused-properties