What's happening
This bill allows Southampton property owners whose homes are divided by school district boundaries to pay school taxes to one district of their choice, with rules for designation and proration.
Why it matters
Gives homeowners more control over school tax payments. Property owners whose houses are split across two school districts can choose which district receives their school taxes, potentially letting them support the district that better serves their family or aligns with their preferences.
Ensures children’s schooling is prioritized. If a homeowner’s children attend school in one of the bisecting districts, taxes must go to that district, ensuring that public funding follows actual student enrollment and benefiting the schools that serve those children.
Changes how school districts receive tax money for bisected properties. Taxes will be prorated according to the property division, but collected at the chosen district’s tax rate, which could impact both district revenues and individual tax bills—potentially leading to savings or increased costs depending on the chosen district's rate.
Introduces local rulemaking and administrative complexity. The Southampton town board must create new regulations and processes to manage homeowner designations and handle payments between districts, potentially resulting in administrative challenges or delays.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Let Owners Pick School Taxes
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to real property taxation
- Referred to real property taxation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Let Owners Pick School Tax
In Senate Committee · Local Government · Sponsor Kenneth P. LaValle
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
S. 1598 A. 936
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
SENATE - ASSEMBLY
January 10, 2017
IN SENATE -- Introduced by Sen. LAVALLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Local Government
IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by M. of A. THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Real Property Taxation
AN ACT to amend the real property tax law, in relation to the payment of school taxes by owners of bisected real property in the town of Southampton, county of Suffolk
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The real property tax law is amended by adding a new section 561 to read as follows:
§ 561. Bisected real property. 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any person who is an owner of real property located within the town of Southampton, county of Suffolk which is bisected by a boundary separating two schools and is the primary residence of such owner shall pay the real property school tax liability assessed to such property to one of such school districts as designated by such owner at the tax rate employed by such school district. Such owner of real property shall designate the school district to which such taxes shall be paid, provided, however, that if there are any children residing in such primary residence who attend school in a school district whose boundary bisects such property, such owner shall pay such taxes to the school district where such children attend school.
2. Each school district which is designated to receive school taxes from the town pursuant to this section shall receive the amount such district is entitled to based upon the proration of the bisected real property, calculated at the tax rate employed by the designated school district.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02099-01-7
S. 1598 2 A. 936
3. The Southampton town board is hereby authorized and directed to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this section including the manner and form in which an owner of bisected real property shall designate a school district for the payment of taxes and the method by which the town of Southampton shall remit payment to such designated and non-designated school districts.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to assessment rolls prepared on the basis of taxable status dates occurring on or after such date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.