Executive Order 2020-042: Supplemental Declaration of Municipal Emergency - Interest Waiver

Supplemental Declaration of Municipal Emergency
Executive Order 2020-042
September 22, 2020

WHEREAS, on March 9, 2020, the State of Rhode Island Governor, Gina M. Raimondo, issued Executive Order 20-02 declaring a state of emergency due to the outbreak of COVID-19; and 

WHEREAS, on March 15, 2020, Mayor Roberto L. DaSilva, issued Executive Order 2020-004 declaring a state of municipal emergency due to the outbreak of COVID-19; and 

WHEREAS, the East Providence City Council ratified the Declaration of Municipal Emergency at a meeting on March 17, 2020 and authorized its extension through October 7, 2020 on September 15, 2020; and

WHEREAS, the residents of East Providence face unique a financial burden due to the economic recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic; and 

WHEREAS, the City of East Providence is committed to assisting its residents through these difficult times using the full capabilities it is empowered to do so by law; and

WHEREAS, Rhode Island General Law §44-5-8.1 provides a municipality the ability to waive interest on overdue quarterly property tax payments under specific circumstances.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Mayor Roberto L. DaSilva, by virtue of the authority vested in me as the Mayor of the City of East Providence, pursuant to the Rhode Island General Laws and the Home Rule Charter of the City of East Providence, do hereby order and direct the following: 

• The tax collector for the City of East Providence shall issue a waiver of interest on one quarter's overdue property tax payment and allow the remaining balance of taxes owed to be paid on a quarterly basis for any taxpayer if all of the following conditions are satisfied by the taxpayer:
  1. The property subject to the overdue payment is the residence of the taxpayer and has been for the five (5) years immediately preceding the tax payment which is overdue.
  2. The request for a waiver of interest is in writing, signed and dated by the taxpayer.
  3. The taxpayer has made timely payments of taxes to the city for the five (5) years immediately preceding the tax payment which is overdue. The burden of proof of timely payments shall be upon the taxpayer.
  4. The bill for which the payment is overdue was issued less than two (2) years prior to the date of the request for a waiver of interest.
• In no event shall the waiver of interest on a tax bill exceed five hundred dollars ($500). The decision of the tax collector shall be final and in writing. If the taxpayer receives an adverse decision, the taxpayer must pay the interest.
• Any request for a waiver of taxes which meets criteria established by this Order shall be granted by the tax collector.

This Order shall take effect retroactively, beginning September 1, 2020, and remain in full force and effect unless rescinded or amended by a subsequent Order.