What's happening
This bill exempts certain low-income elderly residents in large New York cities from future water rate increases at their primary homes.
Why it matters
Stabilizes housing costs for vulnerable seniors. By freezing water rates for low-income elderly homeowners, the bill helps ensure that future increases in utility costs do not push these residents closer to financial instability or force them out of their homes.
Targets relief to those most in need. The exemption applies only to primary residences of individuals aged 62 and older with household incomes below $50,000 for two consecutive years, focusing benefits on those with the least ability to absorb rising costs.
Protects other forms of assistance. Seniors already receiving property tax or disability-related exemptions in New York City can still qualify for this water rate freeze, allowing them to benefit from multiple programs without penalty.
Includes safeguards and clear limits. The exemption can be temporarily suspended for up to one year during droughts or major environmental emergencies, and local governments cannot alter or expand the exemption, maintaining uniformity and protecting the program from local political changes.
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Freeze Water Rates for Seniors
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to cities
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to cities
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–1
- Ordered to third reading cal.2055
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to cities
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.
Freeze Water Rates for Seniors
In Assembly Committee · Cities · Sponsor Edward Braunstein
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6057
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 10, 2017
Introduced by Sen. GOLDEN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Cities
AN ACT to amend the real property tax law, in relation to providing certain elderly individuals with an exemption from increases in water rates
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 467-aa to read as follows:
§ 467-aa. Water rate freeze in a city with a population of one million or more. 1. Definitions. As used in this section:
(a) "qualified resident" means a person who is at least sixty-two years of age and has had a total household income of less than fifty thousand dollars for two consecutive income tax years beginning in two thousand fifteen, as verified by the New York city department of finance;
(b) "exemption" means the exemption to future water rate increases provided in subdivision two of this section; and
(c) "primary domicile" means real property owned by one or more persons, each of whom is sixty-five years of age or over, or real property owned by husband and wife or by siblings, one of whom is sixty-five years of age or over, or real property owned by one or more persons, some of whom qualify under this section and the others of whom qualify under section four hundred fifty-nine-c of this title. For the purposes of this section, sibling shall mean a brother or a sister, whether related through half blood, whole blood or adoption.
2. Exemption. A qualified resident of a city with a population of one million or more shall be eligible for an exemption to any future water rate increases at the primary dwelling of such individual; provided, however, that no individual shall be eligible for the exemption at more than one dwelling unit.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11047-04-7
S. 6057 2
3. Temporary suspension of exemption. The exemption may be suspended for no more than one calendar year in the event of a drought or extraordinary catastrophic environmental event as determined jointly by the commissioner of environmental conservation and the commissioner of the department of environmental protection of the city of New York.
4. Eligibility. An individual's enrollment in the senior citizen homeowner exemption provided in section 11-245.3 of the administrative code of the city of New York or the exemption for persons with disabilities provided in section 11-245.4 of the administrative code of the city of New York shall not preclude an otherwise qualified resident from eligibility for the exemption provided in this section.
5. Preemption. The provisions of this section shall exclusively govern the exemption established in subdivision two of this section notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary; and further, no local law shall be enacted which shall purport to expand or curtail the exemption established herein.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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 providing certain elderly individuals with an exemption from increases in water rates
Purpose or general idea of bill
The purpose of the bill is to provide individuals of a certain age and income level an exemption from increases in water rates.
Summary of provisions
This bill would permit an exemption from further water rate increases to individuals in a city having a population of one million or more that have a primary residence or sole domicile in the city and are at least 62 years of age with a household income of $50,000 or less for two consecutive tax years.
Justification
In the 1990's New York City change its method of billing for water usage to a metered system, primarily because there was a significant drop in water consumption. However, this change led to low income households shouldering a larger share of the burden to support the water infrastructure system because the new rate methodology includes not only usage fees but all maintenance and system improvement costs as well. In the past 10 years, the base charge for water in New York City has soared 131 percent, well ahead of the 41 percent increase in the city's median rent. The city pricing system of water puts an unfair burden on senior citizens and low to moderate income households.
Prior legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
None to the State.
Effective date
This bill is effective immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.