Authorizes counties, cities, towns and villages to lease certain property for advertising

BILL NUMBER:S5062

Title of bill

An act to amend the general municipal law, in relation to authorizing counties, cities, towns or villages to sell advertising space on certain property

Purpose

This legislation would permit advertising on designated public property.

Summary of provisions

This legislation establishes a new subsection f in Section 77 of the General Municipal Law to provide municipalities the authorization to use park property for commercial advertising purposes.

JUSTIFICATION:; Under current law, municipalities are not allowed to gain profit through selling advertising space on municipal property such as parks and fields. Given the difficult economic times, municipalities have expressed frustration with this prohibition under the law.

This bill provides municipalities with a much needed revenue tool. Municipalities would have the power to establish fees for advertising spaces and regulate leases with corporations or organizations. Please note that the legislation is an opt-in measure and is subject to local governmental regulation. Additionally, municipal corporations are given the authority to specify the types of property for which these corporations may advertise such as sports fields and buildings with specific restrictions on administrative buildings.

This legislation does not mandate parks to seek commercial advertising, rather it provides a tool for municipalities to raise additional revenue without burdening local taxpayers. Authorizing municipalities to sell advertising space on municipal owned property assists with revenue production for municipalities that are suffering in this time of economic recovery.

Legislative history

New Bill.

Fiscal implications

None to the state.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.