With the city facing a major budget shortfall, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley in April proposed a 7.5% property tax increase for the upcoming fiscal year. State law prohibits municipalities from imposing a tax hike over 4%, so the mayor’s proposal must be approved by the General Assembly.
Providence state Sen. Tiara Mack is strongly opposed to the tax increase, saying it would hurt residents who are struggling to pay their rent and mortgages. She says the Smiley administration needs to consider how to generate more revenue, and has suggested ideas like a vacancy tax, a land value tax, or a city income tax. She’s also recommending higher taxation on hospitals, private universities, and businesses that operate along the Port of Providence.
Interview highlights
On her opposition to a 7.5% property tax increase in Providence
Tiara Mack: A decision to raise property taxes is not one that I think anyone takes lightly, including our City Council and the mayor. But I think there also are several other ways that we can generate revenue that haven’t been explored yet that I would’ve liked to have seen both the city and the City Council really engage in…