R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-3-4: Assessment of benefits and damages in cities.

Whenever the city council of any city shall adjudge it to be necessary to lay out, enlarge, straighten, improve or alter any street or highway, or any part thereof, in the city, and any lands shall be required for the purpose aforesaid, and the city council shall be of the opinion that any estates will be specially benefited thereby, and the city council shall determine what portion of the damage occasioned by taking any real estate for the aforesaid purpose, not exceeding three-fourths (¾) thereof, shall be assessed upon the owners of estates which the commissioners appointed under this chapter shall find to be specially benefited by making the proposed improvement, whether any part of the estates are taken for the improvement or not (provided, that the owners shall not be assessed in any case beyond the amount that the commissioners shall consider their estates to be specially benefited thereby), the city council of the city shall thereupon proceed in the same manner and with the same powers and authority as is given to town councils in § 24-3-3.