General Assembly gives Charlestown authorization to create a Homestead Tax break

Goes to Governor for signature

By Will Collette

Thank you to our State Rep. Tina Spears (D) for getting H6247 passed in the House and Sen. Victoria Gu (D) for shepherding it through the Senate. And thank you, Council President Deb Carney for getting the ball rolling. All the bill needs now is the Governor’s signature and there’s no doubt he will sign it.

This bill gives the Charlestown Town Council the authority to craft an ordinance so those of us who make Charlestown our home can get a break on our property taxes in what’s called a “Homestead Exemption.” The legislation allows the town to exempt up to 10% of your assessed value.

For a house assessed at $500,000, that would knock the assessment down by $50,000. At the anticipated July 1 tax rate of $5.93, that would save around $300.

Many coastal communities offer permanent residents this tax break because we pay year-round for an infrastructure that can accommodate absentee landowners and other summer people.

Summer people also take their toll on our nerves through increased traffic, trash and noise. Other than their taxes, they contribute little to Charlestown’s economy other than the occasional meal at our few local restaurants and grocery shopping at Rippy’s and the Mini-Super.

Out of state landowners have been buying up Charlestown beach properties at unheard prices. Most recently, 18 Ninigret Avenue just sold for $5.5 million to a buyer who lives on Park Avenue in Manhattan. They paid more than $2.2 million above the home’s assessed value of $3,292,600.

So far this year, almost a dozen posh homes have sold to non-residents all at premium prices well over their assessed value. While none match the $2.2 million premium paid for 18 Ninigret Avenue, all but two of the other high-rollers paid more than $350,000 above assessed value. In second place after Ninigret Avenue are the Massachusetts buyers of 14 Highland Road who paid $718,900 above assessed value.

These folks seem to have money to burn.

Here’s the complete list of $1 million+ Charlestown sales in 2025 from our Tax Assessor’s office. Note that Starett Road is a duplicate entry:

Eight buyers live in Massachusetts and Connecticut (4 each). New York, New Jersey and Florida each had one.

During the years the Charlestown Citizens Alliance (CCA) ruled Charlestown, they stifled any notion of giving local homeowners any tax break that would come at the expense of non-resident landowners.

The issue crested in December 2011 and ended in what I dubbed “The Riot of the Rich.” Town Hall was packed with rich non-residents, CCA devotees, right-wing nuts like Jim Mageau and Harry Staley and a few sadly misinformed locals who denounced the Charlestown Democratic Committee proposal for a Homestead Tax Credit as the opening salvo in a class war.

It was unfair to the wealthy, they said, and claimed that raising their taxes would drive them to move out, make them boycott local businesses and not give to local charities. They said all this with a straight face.

Since absentee landowners provide a substantial portion of the CCA’s election fund, there was no way the CCA leadership would support the idea. They stomped the homestead credit to death for the duration of their reign.

Then the CCA was finally beaten by Charlestown Residents United (CRU) in 2022 and in 2024 when an all-CRU Town Council slate was elected. That made it safe to talk about issues banned by the CCA.

The Council is currently chaired by Deb Carney (D) who was one of the few brave voices to speak out for the homestead credit in 2011. It was after her Council resolution that state Representative Tina Spears (D) introduced a bill modelled on the recently passed South Kingstown legislation.

Here’s the official timeline for the bill’s quick passage:

House Bill No. 6247

BY Tina Spears

ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES (Grants the town council of the town of Charlestown the authority to enact a homestead exemption ordinance.)

04/23/2025 Introduced, referred to House Municipal Government & Housing

04/25/2025 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (05/01/2025)

05/01/2025 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

06/06/2025 Scheduled for consideration (06/10/2025)

06/10/2025 Committee recommends passage

06/13/2025 Placed on House Calendar (06/16/2025)

06/16/2025 House read and passed

06/16/2025 Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar (06/18/2025)

06/18/2025 Senate passed in concurrence

06/18/2025 Transmitted to Governor

Once McKee signs, the action shifts back to the Town Council who must craft and present a new ordinance for public hearing. They will need to decide whether to do it (and I hope they will) and if so, at what percentage of assessed value. If they act quickly, we could have an ordinance in place when the legislation kicks in on December 31, plenty of time for applying the exemption to next year's tax bills.

The legislation details what properties are eligible.

Here’s the text of the bill:

AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES

Introduced By: Representative Tina L. Spears

Date Introduced: April 23, 2025

Referred To: House Municipal Government & Housing

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Chapter 44-5 of the General Laws entitled "Levy and Assessment of Local Taxes" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

44-5-89. Charlestown homestead exemption.

(a) The town council of the town of Charlestown is authorized to annually fix the amount, if any, of a homestead exemption, with respect to assessed value, from local taxation on taxable real property used for residential purposes or mixed purposes, defined as a combination of residential and commercial uses, in the town of Charlestown, and to grant homestead exemptions to the owner, or owners, of residential real estate, or combination residential and commercial real estate, in an amount not to exceed ten percent (10%) of the assessed value. The exemption shall apply to property used exclusively for residential purposes, and improved with a dwelling containing less than five (5) units, or real property used for a combination of residential and commercial uses. When real property is used for mixed purposes, the percentage of the assessed value shall be a prorated amount. The prorated amount shall be the percentage of square feet of the parcel used for residential purposes, multiplied by the percentage of the homestead exemption. In order to determine compliance with the homestead exemption as outlined in this section, the town council shall provide, by resolution or ordinance, rules and regulations governing eligibility for the exemption established by this section.

(b) In the event property granted an exemption under this section is sold or transferred during the year for which the exemption is claimed, the town council of the town of Charlestown, 19 1 upon approval of the town council, may provide for a proration of the homestead exemption in 2 3 4 cases where title to property passes from those not entitled to claim an exemption to those who are entitled to claim an exemption.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on December 31, 2025.

Understanding the CCA, Part 1

Part of an American tradition of “Rich People’s Movements”

By Will Collette

It’s an election year and time for an updated review of the Charlestown Citizens Alliance (CCA Party), Charlestown’ rulers since 2008 which will be published here in at least two parts.  Click here and here for the 2012 versions.

They are running candidates for Town Council, Planning Commission, Chariho School Committee and Town Moderator – a total of 13 – and, if they all get elected in November, it will extend the CCA Party’s hegemony over Charlestown for at least another two years, if not longer.

With that in mind, it’s a pretty good idea for voters to take a long, hard look at the Charlestown Citizens Alliance – its history, what it stands for and what it has done to Charlestown.

Before we get into the details, here’s a warm-up exercise that will get your mind in the right place to understand the CCA Party. Click on the “Find the Invisible Cow” game and play it for a few rounds. It will make the rest of this article a lot easier to understand.

Like the Invisible Cow, the CCA Party is rarely seen until you come close to the interests of its wealthy backers. Then it becomes very loud and makes its presence felt. Click here for a prime example.

Charlestown chunks

1. Tax bills

2. Sandy money maybe

3. Mageau loses

4. RISC implodes

5. Cooks cook up cookbook blog

By Will Collette

Property Tax Bills Come Due

If it’s August, that means that mosquitoes start carrying West Nile Virus and Charlestown property tax bills become due. Well, I don’t mind paying my fair share of taxes. As Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes said, taxes are the price we pay for a civilized society.

However, I must again register my disappointment with the CCA Party-dominated Town Council and Budget Commission for enacting, for the sixth year in a row, an increase to our property tax rate even though we carry substantial excess surplus funds. The rate you pay on this year’s tax bill is sixteen cents per $1000 in property value higher because the town decided to pay off the loan on the Police Station early, rather than use some of the excess surplus to keep the tax rate steady.

CCA's first smear campaign victim vindicated in East Providence case

John Craig wins his school department job back

Driven out of Charlestown by the CCA, Craig found satisfaction working
for the East Providence school system

By Will Collette

The first victim of a  Charlestown Citizens Alliance (CCA) smear campaign was John Craig, who was elected to the Town Council in 2006 as part of Jim Mageau’s ticket. A popular guy, Craig was elected to serve as Town Council President.

UPDATE: Rhode Island’s new voter ID law

UPDATE: Beware of unintended consequences

THE TRUE FACE OF VOTER FRAUD:  Indiana Secretary 
of State Charlie White  (R) found GUILTY   of voter 
fraud by lying about his actual residence.

By Will Collette

UPDATE (August 15): Despite NO evidence that voter fraud actually exists in Pennsylvania, and the state's admission that they have no such evidence, the state court judge in the case refused to issue an injunction against the Pennsylvania law taking effect for the November election.

Commonwealth Court Justice Robert Simpson, a Republican, refused to grant the motion for the injunction requested by opponents of the law.

He noted that their case was sympathetic in showing the likelihood that elderly, disabled, minority and low-income voters would be affected, but that he could not rule based on sympathy.

The bill's opponents expect to file an appeal with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Rhode Island has a similar law.

RISC-Y spending

RI’s top right-wing political group uses interesting financial practices to buy power

By Will Collette

In my last installment, I examined how RISC structured itself to gain political power and, as a surprise side bonus, serve as a tax shelter for some of its wealthy leaders.

I ended that installment with a general overview of how RISC uses a non-profit foundation, the RISC Foundation, as a way to raise large amount of cash from out of state donors while offering those donors the benefits of tax deductibility.

I also reported that while RISC is Rhode Island’s leading conservative lobbying and electoral organization, they report spending close to zero dollars on lobbying and getting its endorsed candidates elected.

In this installment, we’ll look in detail at how RISC spends its money.

RISC-y reporting

Rhode Island’s leading conservative political action group reports that it spends almost NO MONEY on political action

By Will Collette

Recently, I reported on the major leadership changes in the Rhode Island Statewide Coalition (RISC) and their plan to move out of their long-time headquarters in Charlestown to new quarters in the metro area (they’ve moved to West Warwick).

RISC is Rhode Island’s most prominent right-wing political organization. They’re always getting mentioned in the news when they criticize unions, public workers, Democrats, spending, taxes, etc.

They were originally founded to fight against the Narragansett Indian Tribe and to promote voting rights for out of state people who own shoreline estates. Over the years, they diversified their issue portfolio to its present, generalized attack on Rhode Island working people. They now list among their coalition partners the Tea Party, Operation Clean Government and a motley collection of local anti-tax groups.

Their relationship with the Charlestown Citizens Alliance is unacknowledged, but they share the same DNA.

RISC is also a big promoter of open, honest and transparency in government – although as you read on, you’ll see that these principles only apply to other, but not to themselves. You can see where the CCA picked up its values, and as you read on, their practices.

RISC-y moves

RI Statewide Coalition changes leaders, prepares to move out of Charlestown

By Will Collette

The Staley family’s family business, the RI Statewide Coalition, is undergoing some major changes. A new RISC Executive Director is replacing Harriet Lloyd, daughter of RISC founder and Shelter Harbor scion Harry Staley. Donna Perry, public relations flack and sister of uber-rightwing WPRO shock jock John DiPetro, takes over that position. 

Lloyd will become RISC President, and according to news reports, will focus primarily on fund-raising. She will replace James Beale who is leaving the organization.

RISC also plans to move from its long-time headquarters office in Charlestown to a new location, reportedly in Warwick. 

Another example of what a Homestead Property Tax Exemption looks like

RI Statewide Coalition board member got $50,000 in Homestead Exemption from Florida the year he ran for elected office in Rhode Island

Kerry King

By Will Collette

On December 12, the RI Statewide Coalition brought in a mob of non-resident property owners to denounce the proposal by town Democrats that Charlestown residents receive a $1000 Homestead Tax Credit on their property tax bills.

The Town Council majority – CCA leaders Tom Gentz and Dan Slattery, plus Lisa DiBello – voted against Charlestown residents and for non-residents by killing the $1000 Homestead Tax Credit.

The RI Statewide Coalition spokesperson and organizer for the evening was RISC head kahuna Harry Staley. But if RISC wanted to be truly honest and above board about what they stand for, they should have had RISC board member Kernan “Kerry” King speak for them.

Homestead Tax Credit KILLED by Town Council majority

If you ever had any doubts about who runs Charlestown, this should settle them

By Will Collette

An overwhelming turn-out of Charlestown's elite as well as an influx of non-resident property owners was more than enough political cover for the Town Council majority of Tom Gentz, Deputy Dan Slattery and Lisa DiBello to kill the proposal for a $1000 Homestead Tax Credit to Charlestown homeowners who make this town their home.

By the end of the onslaught of poor, rich people, it seemed like the only thing missing was a proposal for the town to run a Telethon to help millionaire homeowners make the payments on their primary home, summer home, and all the other essentials of their lifestyles.

OSPRI corkscrews into the ground

GoLocalProv.com had the scoop this morning that the Ocean State Policy Research Group has, as GoLocal put it, "imploded" and will shut down entirely by next month.

OSPRI director (and former RI Statewide Coalition board member) William Felkner has already left.

This ultra-right wing "think" tank has made its mark by issuing two consecutive "research" reports that earned a "False" rating from the Providence Journal's Polifacts fact-checking team.

RISC claims it has no ties to OSPRI

Harry Staley, chair of the RI Statewide Coalition (RISC), left a strongly worded comment on my article about false information in the latest report by the Ocean State Policy Research Institute (OSPRI).

Rather than go back and forth in the comment section, I felt Mr. Staley’s remarks – and my reply to them - deserved more prominent space.

Here’s what Mr. Staley wrote:

Jobs and Housing Make People Leave, Not Taxes

Oh boy, there are going to be some angry people over at the RI Stateline Coalition (RISC) office. That's over at 3949 Old Post Road here in town. After a year of touting a "study" by OSPRI that claimed to show that Rhode Island's taxes were forcing rich people to move away to Florida and the like, yet another new study shows that this story is simply not true.

The University of Massachusetts study looked at all six New England states together and individually and relied on a detailed analysis of patterns shown in US census data to draw its conclusions. This methodology contrasted sharply with OSPRI's scientific method which was to survey the friends of RISC founder Harry Staley and Hasbro honcho Alan Hassenfeld.

For a summary of the report's findings on Rhode Island, click here.