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Learn More Here Councilor David Salvatore Proposes Online Application System for Overnight Parking Permits in Providence At tonight’s City Council meeting, Councilor David A. Salvatore (Ward 14) proposed a resolution requesting that the Department of Public Works... Read More Providence City Council Approves a $20-Million Investment in Affordable Housing Providence City Council Approves a $20-Million Investment in Affordable Housing The City Council voted this evening to pass a change to the Code of... Read More City Councilors Call on City to Suspend Tax Sales for Fiscal Year 2021 Councilman James E. Taylor (Ward 8) will introduce an Ordinance that requests the City of Providence and the City Tax Collector to suspend all tax... Read More Council President Pro Tempore Michael Correia to Propose Multiple Neighborhood Improvement Resolutions At tonight's City Council meeting, Council President Pro Tempore Michael Correia (Ward 6) will introduce four resolutions regarding neighborhood... Read More Providence City Councilors Propose Resolution Urging Flexible Options for Liquor License Holders At tomorrow’s City Council Meeting, Council President Sabina Matos (Ward 15) will propose a resolution requesting that Mayor Jorge Elorza and the... Read More City Council President Sabina Matos and Providence Revolving Fund Director Carrie Zaslow Awarded Three Manton Ave Businesses with Micro-Business Loans On Friday, September 25, 2020, three Providence businesses were awarded with a Providence Commercial Corridor Micro-Business Loan. This program... Read More Statement from Councilman James E. Taylor Regarding Review of the City’s Public Safety Division As a member of the City Council's Committee on Finance, I am uniquely aware of the complexities and the precarious state of Providence's finances. I... Read More Statement from Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr. Regarding Mayor Elorza’s Announcement of a Review and Budget Analysis of the Public Safety Department I am disappointed that Mayor Elorza has only elected to review the budget of one department out of nearly fifty under the City’s purview. Why and... Read More Joint Statement from Mayor Jorge O. Elorza and Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan We want to thank the Providence College administration for their swift action in the wake of the 120+ positive cases of COVID-19 amongst their... Read More Statement from Councilor David A. Salvatore Regarding Providence College COVID-19 Cases I want to thank the Providence College (PC) administration for their diligence and quick action regarding the newly reported cases of COVID-19... Read More Upcoming Events Find out when the Council are holding events and community meetings in your neighborhood so you can stay involved! See The Calendar How Can We Help? Not sure where to start? An answer might be a click away. Start here and we’ll help point you in the right direction. Get Started Facebook Feed Providence City Council 4 hours ago City Councilors Call on City to Suspend Tax Sales for Fiscal Year 2021 Councilman James E. Taylor (Ward 8) will introduce an Ordinance that requests the City of Providence and the City Tax Collector to suspend all tax sales for this fiscal year (July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021) at this evenings City Council meeting. The Ordinance is co-sponsored by President Pro Tempore Michael Correia (Ward 6), Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr. (Ward 4), and Councilor Rachel Miller (Ward 13). As of yesterday, 8,344 Providence residents have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. Due to this ongoing global pandemic small businesses are shuttering, unemployment rates are still at high levels, and housing insecurity is becoming a greater risk for residents. “As a City, we have an obligation to our residents to protect their interests, and with so many residents out of work, they have to make choices between food, mortgage, and taxes. Although we are asking the Tax Collector to suspend tax sales, nothing in this Ordinance shall in any way impact the Collector’s ability to collect interest on unpaid taxes as prescribed by law. Our residents and our neighbors need some relief, and the fear of losing their home to a tax sale is a relief that we as a City can provide,” stated Councilman James E. Taylor. A property is subject to a “tax sale” when the taxes are seriously delinquent, and the city asks an interested third party to pay the taxes. In exchange for the payment, the city puts a tax lien on the property in favor of the party who paid the taxes. The property owner has a year and a day to pay the third party the back taxes and fees. If they cannot, the third party has the right to take title to the property through the court. The proceeding is called “foreclosing the right of redemption.” Council President Pro Tempore Michael Correia stated, “Although we know the City is facing serious financial difficulties, we need to put the needs of our residents first. We don’t yet have a budget for this fiscal year and continue to operate on the previous year’s budget. Tax sales do provide some relief to the budget, but it’s very small. The City will be made whole in the following fiscal year, and residents will have the time they need to find the financial assistance they may need to keep their properties.” The proposed Ordinance being presented tonight would suspend all authority for a tax sale pursuant to the Providence Code of Ordinances. While the Collector may utilize his state-mandated authority to still move forward with a tax sale for the current fiscal year, the passage of this ordinance removes all authority granted to the Collector by the Council to do so. “Last year only 100 residential properties were part of the fiscal year 2020 tax sale,” stated Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr. “Residents have a year and a day to pay the back taxes and fees to retain ownership, but during these uncertain financial times we need to help where we can. I hope the Collector and the City will agree that we can delay a tax sale by one year to provide homeowners the time they need to pay their back taxes and provide the security that these residents need.” Councilor Rachel Miller shared, “I have spoken to many residents who have lost their jobs due to the pandemic. The stimulus of $600.00 that was given weekly to unemployed residents has ended, and with the current COVID-19 aid package stuck in the United States Senate, our neighbors are trying to make ends meet. As an elected leader, I feel we have an obligation to support our residents when we can, and I urge the City and the Collector to consider suspending this year’s tax sale to help keep our residents in their homes without the added fear of losing it due to their inability to pay their taxes.” The Ordinance will be sent to the Council’s Committee on Ordinances for further review and discussion. For more information, visit our website: https://buff.ly/3iHErkM ... See More See Less Photo View on Facebook · Share Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email Providence City Council 7 hours ago...