Politics & Government

Bill OKd Allowing Coventry Fire Districts to Adopt Tax Classification

The General Assembly has approved legislation allowing fire districts in Coventry to adopt tax classification rates and to operate under a previous year’s fiscal budget, under certain circumstances.

Introduced by Rep. Scott Guthrie (D-Dist. 27, Coventry), the legislation, 2013-H 6101, was passed last Wednesday by the House of Representatives and Senate and will now go to the governor for his consideration. Representative Guthrie said the enabling legislation is necessary to help, specifically, the Central Coventry Fire District as it works to resolve its ongoing financial problems.

Under the legislation, fire districts would be empowered to adopt a tax classification plan, with approval of the voters of the district, that establishes four classes: residential real estate consisting of no more than five dwelling units, land classified as open space and dwellings on leased land including mobile homes; commercial and industrial real estate, residential properties containing partial commercial or business uses and resident real estate of more than five dwelling units; all ratable tangible personal property; motor vehicles and trailers subject to excise tax.

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Under the legislation, the effective tax rate applicable to any class excluding vehicles is not to exceed by 50 percent the rate of any other class.

The legislation also provides that, if a fire district fails to approve an annual appropriation measure, the same amounts appropriated in the previous fiscal year shall be available.

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The legislation also requires all fire districts in Coventry to provide for an annual independent audit.

“The Central Coventry Fire District is taking the steps necessary to fix its fiscal situation, with the election of a new board,” said Representative Guthrie. “This legislation gives the board and the voters of the district more tools to use to work its way out of the problems.”

“The bill will also be equally beneficial to other fire districts in the town,” he continued. “Some fire districts around the state have been using a tax classification system, even though they don’t have the authority but assumed they did because their municipality has the power. This legislation will give Coventry districts that power, explicitly, and should help make fire district taxes in the town much more equitable for residential property and businesses, alike.”

If enacted, the legislation would take immediate effect.


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