Exempts from taxation the real and tangible personal property of Blithewold, Inc., located at 101 Ferry Road, Bristol, Rhode Island.

## Summary of the Blithewold Property Tax Exemption Bill

This bill would exempt Blithewold, Inc. from paying property taxes on its real estate and physical personal property located at 101 Ferry Road in Bristol, Rhode Island. Blithewold is a nonprofit organization that operates the Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum, a historic estate open to the public that features gardens, grounds, and a 45-room mansion along Narragansett Bay.

If passed, this means Blithewold would no longer owe local property taxes to the Town of Bristol on this property. Tax exemptions like this are sometimes granted to nonprofit cultural, educational, or historic organizations because they provide a public benefit rather than operating for private profit. The bill specifically adds Blithewold to the list of properties in Rhode Island law that are exempt from taxation.

The bill primarily affects two parties. For Blithewold, Inc., it would reduce the organization's operating costs by eliminating its property tax burden, potentially freeing up funds for maintenance, programming, and preservation of the historic site. For the Town of Bristol, however, it would mean a loss of tax revenue that the property currently generates, which could affect the town's budget and potentially shift a small portion of the tax burden onto other Bristol taxpayers.

The bill has already passed the Rhode Island House of Representatives and has been referred to the Senate Housing and Municipal Government Committee for further consideration.