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Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 57
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to local government
- Referred to local government
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the real property tax law, in relation to excluding the value of trees for the purposes of assessment in certain counties
Purpose
This bill excludes the value of trees for the purposes of real property tax assessments in the Southern Tier.
Summary of provisions
Section 305 of the Real Property Tax Law is amended to exclude the value of trees for the purposes of real property tax assessments in the Counties of Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben and Yates, retroactively effective from January 1, 2011.
Justification
This legislation would exclude standing timber on privately owned forestland in the Counties of Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben and Yates from the definition of real property for purposes of real property tax assessment. The escalating costs of municipal services have placed tremendous pressure on the real property tax system. Local governments have improved their information management systems and are looking for ways to increase their tax base. As assessors are becoming more assertive in finding ways to increase property values, some are beginning to change their assessment on forestlands by including the value of standing timber in the assessment of forestlands. Those applying this change note that the current definition of real property includes the value of standing timber in the assessment of forestlands. New assessments that attempt to reflect current timber values can produce a steep tax increase on these properties. The practical results are likely to be over harvesting, liquidation cuttings or conversion to development. At the very least, this policy is an incentive for landowners to practice poor forest management. Changing the definition of real property to exclude standing timber on private forestland will simplify the assessment process, reduce inequities and encourage landowners to manage their forest resources in a more sustainable manner.
Legislative history
2009-2010: S.2261-A Referred to Local Government 2007-2008: S.2868 Referred to Local Government 2006: S.7762 Referred to Local Government
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
Immediate, and shall be deemed to have been in full force and effect on and after January 1, 2011.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.