Homestead Audit Called Off For Now
The East Providence City Council puts a moratorium on the Homestead Exemption audit because the letter to homeowners says that a federal income tax return can be a proof of residency.
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The City Council called a temporary halt to the Homestead Exemption audit in East Providence on Tuesday night, Nov. 20.
The vote was 3-1 with one absence. The audit won't continue, it appears, until the letter going out to homeowners is stripped of language that says a federal income tax return can be used as proof of residency.
"Are we really asking for people to show us their federal tax returns?" said City Councilor William Conley. "Where is the law that says we can do that?"
The response from City Manager Peter Graczykowski and Finance Director Malcolm Moore was that a federal return is only one of the suggested ways to prove residency.
"People need two of the five" suggested proofs of residency on the letter, said Moore. Such as a RI driver's license and and vehicle registration.
The other proofs listed on the letter to homeowners are a RI voter registration, a Social Security statement/bank statement and the federal income tax return.
A utility bill could be used as well, said Graczykowski. A piece of mail to a person's home could be sufficient proof for the tax assessor. None of those are listed on the letter, though.
It is the federal income tax return that got Conley and Mayor Bruce Rogers all fired up Tuesday night.
"I am telling people not to bring their federal tax returns to the city," said Rogers.
In fact, he said, "Do not bring your tax returns."
Because the letter going out to homeowners still lists the income tax return as a proof of residency, though, the City Council decided to put a moratorium on the audit. It probably won't begin again until a new letter without that suggested proof of residency is approved by the City Council and then distributed.
The audit is an attempt "to make sure all homeowners who get a Homestead Exemption are entitled to it," said Graczykowski previously."We want to make sure the exemptions are going to the right people."
East Providence has more than 11,000 exemptions worth almost $7 million, he said. Based on audits done elsewhere in similar cities, the city could save up to $200,000.
The cost of finding out if everyone receiving an exemption is entitled to it will cost about $8,000, he said.
"This will certify everyone," Graczykowski said.
The original deadline for residents to fill out form and provide proof of residency was Nov. 30. It was moved to Dec. 15 when the mailing was messed up by the mailing company, said the city manager. Many East Providence residents still have not received the form.
Given the moratorium, you can probably ignore the letter when you receive it -- at least for a few more weeks.
Diane
8:32 am on Wednesday, November 21, 2012
I agree with Mr. Conley. This was a waste of the taxpayers dollars. In the first place if you vote the city has a copy of your voter card on file, if you own a vehicle, the city sends you a bill for auto taxes. So why can't the people in city hall look up this information? Why do you have to supply them with a copy of your voter ID card and vehicle registration? What about those who do not vote, or own a vehicle, then they have to supply tax returns, social security statements or bank statements. All of this is private information and I do believe it is an invasion of privacy to have to supply those documents if you do not drive or vote. Think about it, it's not about making mountains out of mole hills. It's about guarding your privacy!!
b1
9:26 am on Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Hey folks, it's ONLY costing the city $8,000.00 to send these letters out and then send them out again and then send them out again.........................
What a bunch of................................
Bruce Zarembka
10:10 am on Wednesday, November 21, 2012
While the majority on this city council have been inept throughout their tenure, this speaks more to the ineptness of the city manager. Obviously this process was not properly vetted. Also using a utility bill as proof of residence does nothing, as a property owner who is paying for the utilities as part of a tenant agreement, may still live at another address, or outside of the city. This entire process is flawed and just continues to show how poorly this city is being managed. Thanks to Bill Conley and for once, I actually have a positive comment for Bruce Rogers, understanding how inept this process is. It began right from the start with the mailing process.
Rags 1
10:12 am on Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Where's the beef?
If you put in for an exemption of any kind, you waive the right to certain privacies.
Verfication is necessary to prevent court cases, and documentation is necessary
so that the rest of us aren't paying for those thast are not entitled to an exemption.
City Manager is right, that's why you hire professionals.
Disgusted
11:50 am on Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Professionals?
davis bacon
2:24 pm on Wednesday, November 21, 2012
This was an attempt to harass the residents of the city and make it difficult for them to maintain their homestead exemptions. The process was designed to remove people from the exemption not simply to ensure compliance. Each homeowner who missed the deadline or didn't properly comply was additional revenue for the city.
Diane
6:24 pm on Wednesday, November 21, 2012
This process was well under way before the elections, Rogers all ready knew about it, so I do not see Rogers's getting all fired up over it as a big deal. His only reason for getting fired up was because he lost the election.
After all these years and it is going to be phased out, why go through all this b/s now over it. This was not something you applied for, it was given to the home owner at the time they purchased their house.
I have not heard of any other city or town that required personal documentation to get an exemption.
The city manager was wrong.
Govstench
11:57 am on Thursday, November 22, 2012
Income tax returns (both state & federal) should be off the table - it is none of the city's business. Some of the forms of ID are fine for single family homeowners, but for apartment houses, the property owners should provide a copy of a mortgage payment or the deed to the property and a copy of the building insurance as proper ID. That would nail it down. This is not rocket science and I am surprised this city manager didn't even mention this.
b1
5:51 pm on Thursday, November 22, 2012
The city manager didn't mention it because he has been too busy listening and taking direction from Rogers. Mr. Graczylowski has been doing his job according to what Rogers says. Mr Rogers has had his grip on city hall for the past 2 years and he is now feeling threatened because of his election loss. His only means on keeping this grip is through Rose, Rossi and maybe Capobianco. I have seen the city manager at budget commission meetings and it seems as though he is trying to change the way he does business, meaning, he now sees what these people are all about (Rogers, Rose, Rossi) and he knows it's the wrong way to operate. Hopefully, he'll let it be known that he is not in the pockets of these people and start doing his job the way it is suppossed to be.
davis bacon
5:18 am on Friday, November 23, 2012
You're observations (b1) seem pretty accurate. The problem is that over the last year he has shown how he understood the role of city manager. His judgement, ethics and integrity shouldn't be altered based on the political environment.
b1
11:20 am on Friday, November 23, 2012
Mr. Bacon,
I absolutely agree with you on the judgement, ethics and integrity shouldn't be altered based on the political enviroment but, unfortunately that is how this council operates. Take a look at the city clerk, a local newspaper reported that the city clerk showed up at an election party with Rose.
This council has showed it has/had many in their back pocket and it is disgusting. I only hope that thought process changes this time around, although, I don't think it will. I have a feeling this council will only bring more riff than we bargined for.
Time will tell.
Rags 1
12:54 pm on Friday, November 23, 2012
Insults and conspiracy theories is one of the main reasons elections are lost.
Most of the time, they are excuses for lack of political knowledge or more mainly the serious issues.
I observed the City manager at meetings outside of the City Council meetings and he appears to me to be as professional as any I have seen in the last 50 years and more than some ever were.
Political opinions and bias are easily identified.
City Council have to work with the hands they are dealt by the electorate.
b1
2:12 pm on Friday, November 23, 2012
Well Rags, as long as you observed the city manager acting like a professional, then I guess it doesn't matter the opinions of others.
Why don't you run for office, or have you already?
Interesting.
C the light
11:18 pm on Friday, November 23, 2012
okay, did anyone read the letter, tax returns was an "option" what's the problem. There is way too much unnecessary baloney from citizens and city hall. Come on this is not rocket science, we all know what it's for just do it already and be done with it. Then get some real work done...please. This city is really starting to look pathetic.
Diane
8:38 am on Saturday, November 24, 2012
C the light, I will explain the problem with this letter to you, that most of us understand. If you vote or own a vehicle, no problem, you give them either a copy of your voter card, registration or drivers license. For those who own property and do not vote or own a vehicle, then you would have to give them a copy of your federal tax return, social security statement, bank statement, besides a R.I. ID. If you did not vote or drive would you want to give this personal information? Besides the city has on file a copy of your voter card and they also send you a tax bill to your address for your vehicles. It's pretty pathetic that the people in city hall can not look up this information and save the city some money.
C the light
10:41 pm on Sunday, November 25, 2012
I agree in this day an age this shouldn't even be an issue if people did their job in the first place and how much money have we lost in past years because of the job not being done. I now understand your point, however, if I had to give my tax return all information ($$, etc) would be blocked out except the essential information that they are looking for (proof of residence). I am just sick of stupid issues that could be avoided with proper management, basically tired of paying people to do the job over an over again. I really need to get out of this city.
Diane
1:51 pm on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
I agree it could be avoided with proper management, which is something this city is lacking big time. There are many of us who wish we could get out of this city.