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CONTACT: Matt Sheley at (401) 842-6543 or msheley@middletownri.com 

MIDDLETOWN TAX LEVY OKAYED

MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (JUNE 17, 2024) – The Fiscal 2025 tax levy has been approved for Middletown.

On Monday night in Town Hall, the Town Council voted to sign off on the figures, meaning the residential tax rate for local residents is expected to be $8.67 per $1,000 of assessed property value, $11.27 per $1,000 for nonresidents and $13 per $1,000 for commercial sites.

Town Administrator Shawn J. Brown said technically, the tax rates aren’t officially finalized yet. That won’t officially happen until Tax Assessor George Durgin certifies the tax roll and locks in the tax rates, but Brown said they’re as close to done as possible without those two steps being completed.

The council vote also means work on the Fiscal 2025 budget is finished and spending and revenues are set for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1.

Council President Paul M. Rodrigues said as designed, the tax levy would benefit the most residents, business owners and renters who live in neighborhoods like Oxbow Farms and Northgate Apartments and they could see their taxes go down.

“I’m going to support this because I do believe it does help the majority of residents,” Rodrigues said.

At the same time, council members generally agreed they’d like to take a look at the tax system moving forward.

“I want to make sure renters are treated fairly and don’t have to pay out the nose to stay here,” Councilor Emily Tessier said.

“As we move the slide rule down, we force our residents to pay more,” Councilor Christopher Logan said, referring to the town’s split residential tax rate.

Councilor Dennis Turano argued against the tax levy, saying he felt renters would pay under the program.

“The people who have the greatest need are renting properties…” Turano said. “If we increase the taxes on rental properties, they will increase the rents.”

Even before the start of the Fiscal 2025 budget review process, Brown made it clear there wasn’t any “extra” money in the upcoming fiscal year. With initial payments for the new middle-high school and other expenses coming due, town department heads were instructed to hold their requested increases to 2 percent.

After multiple line by line reviews by town staff and the council, the $90.7 million budget was presented at two well attended public hearings in late May. Following the second hearing, the council adopted the budget, which capped school spending at 4 percent and town spending at 2.5 percent.

To review the budget document, go to https://www.middletownri.gov/DocumentCenter/View/12425/TA-Budget-Package online. For an overview document, visit https://www.middletownri.gov/DocumentCenter/View/12424/Budget-Workshop-Presentation-FY2025-4_27_24 online. To see the approved final budget, check out https://www.middletownri.gov/DocumentCenter/View/12998/FY-25-Final-Ordinance-Signed online.

Brown and others said they were pleased with the budget since it continued to move Middletown forward without overburdening residents — especially with the new school and related work.

“We worked hard on this budget and were extremely conscious of what most of our residents are saying,” Brown said. “We also wanted to make sure we minimized the effect of the new school on our tax bills, a goal that we’ve more than accomplished. And best yet, we did this all without cutting services our residents have come to expect."

Brown also thanked the town and school finance staff and others who worked diligently to put together the budget.

“I say this every year, but without everyone pulling in the same direction, none of this would be possible,” Brown said. “It’s no secret that the cost of everything is going up, but we have to be as reasonable as possible with what we do to keep Middletown a great place to live, work and play.”

Document Link: https://mdl.town/NYCU-Levy