Authorizes real property taxing entities to establish a 10% property tax exemption for property owned by an auxiliary police officer with 5 years of service

BILL NUMBER:S5755

Title of bill

An act to amend the real property tax law, in relation to establishing a tax exemption for real property owned by an auxiliary police officer

Purpose

To allow a county, city, village, town, or school district to enact a local law, ordinance, or resolution providing a real property tax exemption for auxiliary police officers.

Summary of provisions

Section one amends the Real Property Tax Law by adding. section 465 which would allow counties, and its towns, villages, and school districts to adopt a local law, ordinance, or resolution granting an auxiliary police officer enrolled in an auxiliary police unit a property tax exemption to the extent of ten percent of the assessed property value up to a maximum of $3,000 multiplied by the latest state equalization rate of the assessing unit. To qualify the applicant would have to be an enrolled member of the auxiliary police unit for five years, be a resident of the county served by the unit, and the property must be the applicant's primary residence.

Section two contains the effective date.

Justification

Auxiliary police officers provide a valuable service to members of the community. These workers absorb many costs over the years including training and cost of being certified and recertified. This exemption will help offset those costs and also serve to encourage more local residents to become members of these volunteer organizations since they would now receive a tangible benefit against their taxes.

Legislative history

New bill.

Fiscal implications

None to the state.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.