While he didn’t specify a date, City Tax Assessor Neal Dupuis said Wednesday that city property tax bills will be in the mail “shortly.”

He said the vendor that prints and mails the bills is ready to go, and as a precaution he’s waiting to make certain the state budget – once signed by the governor – provides for the car tax phase-out as approved by legislators.

Under the phase-out plan, the city is reimbursed by the state for the reduction in motor vehicle tax revenues. If that were to change after the bills were mailed, the city would need to send a supplemental bill.

By waiting, Dupuis points out, the city avoids the possibility of added expanse and confusion.

The first quarterly payment is due July 15, but Dupuis said the grace period before an interest penalty is applied would be extended until the end of the month.

Apart from an increase in the tax levy, this year’s bills promise to hold both surprises and disappointment for some taxpayers. That is resulting from the revaluation of property as of Dec. 31, 2018, completed in April.

The revaluation reflected the hot real estate market of the last two years, especially for single-family homes that were in the range of $180,000 to $280,000 in 2015 and are now selling for up to $300,000 and more. Proportionally, these property owners will see a greater percentage increase – some as much as 35 percent – in their taxes than higher-valued properties that didn’t appreciate as greatly.

The residential tax rate is $18.73, while the commercial rate $28.10 and the personal property rate is $37.46. The motor vehicle rate is unchanged at $34.60.

In the case of Warwick, implementation of the motor vehicle excise tax phase-out is reflected by an increase in the value exemption and reduction in valuation.