R.I. Gen. Laws § 44-3-31.1 — Providence Freeze of certain tax

(a) The city of Providence is authorized to provide, by ordinance, for the freezing of
property taxes on owner-occupied residential real estate, for 2001, at 105.5% of the
amount of the property taxes levied for 2000 upon the assessed valuation as of December
31, 1999 (plus any property tax attributable to additions to the property between
December 31, 1999 and December 31, 2000); and in subsequent years, at the amount of
the property tax for the next prior year increased by the percentage increase in the
tax rate for real estate (plus any increase in taxes due to any additions to the property
between the date as of which the taxes are levied and the date as of which the taxes
for the next prior year were levied) provided the household income of the owner is
not greater than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) during the calendar year of
the date of assessment of the valuations.
(b) For the purposes of this section “owner-occupied residential real estate” is defined
as real property from one to three (3) families owned and occupied by the owner or
owners and having not more than three (3) dwelling units, one of the units of which
constitutes the principal residence of the owner or owners; such property includes
assessed land, buildings or improvements incidental to habitation and used exclusively
by the owners of the property or their guests or tenants.
(c) “Household income” for purpose of this section means all monies received by the owner
or owners, the spouse of any owner and any other person over eighteen (18) years of
age occupying the dwelling unit occupied by the owner or owners, from whatever source
derived, including, but not limited to, capital gains, dividends, interest, wages,
pensions, annuities, retirement and social security benefits, workers’ compensation
benefits, cash public assistance and relief and any and all other monies received.
(d) The ordinance providing for the tax freeze may provide rules for determining income,
percentage increase in the tax rate, submission of proof of entitlement and any other
terms and conditions as the city council deems appropriate to carry out the provisions
of this section.