What's happening
This bill allows municipal corporations with privately owned forest lands to apply for state assistance to offset reduced tax assessments on those lands.
Why it matters
Helps protect municipal budgets. By allowing cities and towns to seek state assistance for lost property tax revenue from privately owned forest lands, the bill reduces the financial strain that forest tax breaks can place on local governments.
Supports forest conservation policies. The measure can make it politically and economically easier for municipalities to accept lower tax assessments on forest land, which are often used as incentives for private landowners to keep forests intact and sustainably managed.
Promotes local tax equity. The bill aims to prevent a tax burden shift onto other local property owners by offsetting the revenue shortfall that results from forest land assessment reductions.
Encourages consistent application of state policy. By establishing a standardized process for valuing, equalizing, and compensating for tax reductions, the legislation provides clarity and uniformity for municipalities navigating forest land tax assessment programs.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Reimburse Cities for Forest Tax Loss
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 45
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Print number 2043a
- Amend and recommit to local government
- Referred to local government
- Referred to local government
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.
Compensate Towns for Forest Taxes
In Assembly Committee · Real Property Taxation · Sponsor Aileen Gunther
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2043--A
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 11, 2017
Introduced by Sens. LITTLE, SEWARD, VALESKY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Local Government -- recommitted to the Committee on Local Government in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the real property tax law, in relation to the assessment of private forest lands and to provide state assistance to municipal corporations relating thereto
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 480 of the real property tax law is amended by adding a new subdivision 10 to read as follows:
10. (a) The chief executive officer of a municipal corporation in which there are privately owned forest lands which are assessed in accordance with the provisions of subdivision three of this section may make application for state assistance as provided in this subdivision.
(b) Application for state assistance pursuant to this subdivision shall be made on a form prescribed by the commissioner and shall contain such information and documentation as may be required by the commissioner and the commissioner may promulgate rules and regulations necessary to the implementation of this subdivision.
(c) Upon receipt of the application for state assistance, such private forest lands shall be valued by the commissioner and the cumulative value of all such lands shall be equalized by applying thereto the appropriate state equalization rate or special equalization rate established in accordance with the rules of the commissioner.
(d) If the cumulative value determined and equalized pursuant to paragraph (c) of this subdivision exceeds the taxable assessed valuation of such property on the preceding assessment roll, as required by subdivision three of this section the commissioner shall compute the amount of
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00197-02-8
S. 2043--A 2
state assistance payable to or for the benefit of each municipal corporation by applying to the amount of the excess the appropriate tax rate of the municipal corporation and such amount shall be paid on audit and warrant of the comptroller out of moneys appropriated by the legislature.
§ 2. Section 480-a of the real property tax law is amended by adding a new subdivision 11 to read as follows:
11. (a) The chief executive officer of a municipal corporation in which there are privately owned forest lands which are assessed in accordance with the provisions of this section may make application for state assistance as provided in this subdivision.
(b) Application for state assistance pursuant to this subdivision shall be made on a form prescribed by the commissioner and shall contain such information and documentation as may be required by the commissioner and the commissioner may promulgate rules and regulations necessary to the implementation of this subdivision.
(c) Upon receipt of the application for state assistance, such private forest lands shall be valued by the commissioner and the cumulative value of all such lands shall be equalized by applying thereto the appropriate state equalization rate or special equalization rate established in accordance with the rules of the commissioner.
(d) If the cumulative value determined and equalized pursuant to paragraph (c) of this subdivision exceeds the taxable assessed valuation of such property on the preceding assessment roll, as required by this section the commissioner shall compute the amount of state assistance payable to or for the benefit of each municipal corporation by applying to the amount of the excess the appropriate tax rate of the municipal corporation and such amount shall be paid on audit and warrant of the comptroller out of moneys appropriated by the legislature.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to taxes levied upon assessment rolls prepared on the basis of taxable status dates occurring on or after January 1, 2020.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the real property tax law, in relation to the assessment of private forest lands and to provide state assist- ance to municipal corporations relating thereto
Purpose
This bill will provide for full state reimbursement to local taxing jurisdictions for any tax revenue losses brought about by certain forest land exemptions.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 Provides that the chief executive officer of a municipal corporation may apply for State aid if the cumulative value of forest lands under sections 480 480-a of the real property tax law is less than its fully equalized value were section 480 and 480-a not applicable
Section 2 Amends Section 480-a of the real property tax law by adding subdivision 2
Section 3 Contains the effective date.
Existing law
Sections 480 and 480-a of the real property tax law provide for a significant reduction in the amount of taxes paid on forested lands. The law does not, however, provide for full state reimbursement to local taxing jurisdictions as a result of forest land tax exemptions.
Justification
Sections 480 and 480-a of the real property tax law grant exemptions to certain forest land which decreases the tax base of many towns and coun- ties in southern New York State, Since the presence of forest lands benefit the state as a whole, it is only fair and equitable that any losses of real property revenues incurred by the local taxing jurisdic- tion, be reimbursed by the state as a whole.
Legislative history
2015-16: S.820-A Recommitted to Local Government; A.844-A Recommitted to Real Property Taxation 2013/14: S.1004A Recommit to Local Government; A. 17172 A Referred to Real Property Taxation 2011-12: S.1491 Referred to Local Government 2009/10: S.690 Referred to Local Government 2007/08: S.1056-B Local Government
Fiscal implications
To be determined
Local fiscal implications
To be determined
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to taxes levied upon assessment rolls prepared on the basis of taxable status dates occurring on or after January 1, 2020
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.