What's happening
This bill lets school districts cap school property tax rates for eligible homeowners 70 and older.
Why it matters
Local choice statewide. School districts could adopt the cap after a public hearing. Homeowners must meet enhanced STAR requirements; married couples qualify if one spouse meets the age and eligibility requirements.
Rates, not bills. The rate could not exceed the rate established at the first taxable status date after the eligible homeowner turns 70, and would fall if a later rate is lower. The bill caps tax rates, not total tax bills.
Applications and funding. Eligible owners would apply annually to local assessors with proof of age, and every district would notify residential property owners. Participating districts could receive state reimbursement for 100% of direct implementation costs.
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Who cares
Homeowners 70 and older
Those meeting enhanced STAR requirements could receive capped school tax rates if their districts participate.
School districts
They would decide whether to offer the cap and could claim state reimbursement for direct costs.
Local assessors
They would receive annual applications and proof of applicants' ages.
State Education Department
It would administer reimbursement under rules governing eligible direct costs.
Headline styles
Cap Seniors’ School Tax Rates
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to real property taxation
- Referred to real property taxation
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5932
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 20, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. ENGLEBRIGHT -- read once and referred to the Committee on Real Property Taxation
AN ACT to amend the real property tax law, in relation to establishing a capped real property school tax rate for persons seventy years of age or older who meet the eligibility requirements for the enhanced STAR exemption
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 431 to read as follows:
§ 431. Persons seventy years of age or over; capped real property school tax rate. 1. (a) Residential real property owned and occupied by one or more persons, each of whom is seventy years of age or over and meets each of the requirements for the enhanced exemption for senior citizens set forth in section four hundred twenty-five of this article, or residential real property owned and occupied by husband and wife, one of whom is seventy years of age or over and meets each of the requirements for the enhanced exemption for senior citizens set forth in section four hundred twenty-five of this article, shall be eligible for the capped real property school tax rate set forth in this section, provided the school district, after public hearing, adopts a resolution providing therefor.
(b) For purposes of this section, the term "capped real property school tax rate" shall mean the lower of:
(i) the real property school tax rate established on the taxable status date next succeeding the date on which an eligible person attains the age of seventy years; or
(ii) the real property school tax rate established on any taxable status date subsequent to the date on which an eligible person attains the age of seventy years, which is lower than the real property school tax rate established pursuant to subparagraph (i) of this paragraph.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09859-01-9
A. 5932 2
(c) The capped real property school tax rate shall be determined annually for each eligible person seventy years of age or older in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subdivision.
2. Any person eligible for the capped real property school tax rate shall apply annually for such capped rate. Such application shall be made in a manner and form determined by the department and shall require proof of the applicant's age. Such application shall be filed with the local assessor on or before the taxable status date for such district.
3. Every school district shall notify, or cause to be notified, each person owning residential real property in the school district of the provisions of this section. The provisions of this subdivision may be met by a notice sent to such persons in substantially the following form: "Residential real property owned by persons seventy years of age or older may be eligible for a capped real property school tax rate. To receive such capped rate, eligible owners of qualifying property must file an application with their local assessor on or before the applicable taxable status date. For further information, please contact your local assessor."
4. A school district which provides a capped real property school tax rate for persons seventy years of age or over pursuant to this section shall be eligible for reimbursement by the department of education, as approved by the commissioner of education, in consultation with the commissioner, for one hundred percent of the direct cost to such school district resulting from the implementation of this section. Such direct cost shall be calculated pursuant to regulations of the commissioner of education, in consultation with the commissioner. A claim for such reimbursement shall be made by such school district in a manner and form prescribed by the commissioner of education.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law 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.