This bill amends the charter of the Union Fire District of South Kingstown, which was established in 1883 and last amended in 1997. The amendment includes detailed descriptions of the district's boundaries, excluding the Indian Lake Fire District, and specifies voter rights and qualifications within the district. It establishes the board of canvassers, sets a quorum for district meetings, and outlines the election and duties of the moderator and district wardens. Notable changes include the insertion of the word "The" before "board of wardens" for clarity and the deletion and reinsertion of a section detailing the duties of the district clerk, now including the maintenance of a current copy of the district charter and notification of district meetings.
The bill also defines the roles and powers of the tax collector, district treasurer, and board of wardens, with the tax collector having the same authority as town tax collectors and the treasurer responsible for financial management. It addresses district meetings, fiscal year, account auditing, and monthly public meetings of the wardens. The district is granted the power to manage real and personal estate and vote to grant money for various purposes. Changes include the replacement of "reserve for capital expenditures" with "Capital Projects Fund" and conditions for borrowing and issuing bonds or notes, requiring voter approval for amounts over $500,000. The bill also authorizes the board of wardens to grant tax exemptions to qualified volunteer firefighters and their spouses, outlines the special referendum voting process, and mandates the public availability of the proposed budget.