Paterson proposal could freeze taxes paid to towns for state lands
CHENANGO COUNTY – A proposal in New York State Governor David Paterson’s budget calling for a freeze on tax payments for state-owned lands would have “a devastating effect” on a number of towns in Chenango County.
The proposal, before the state’s legislature, would essentially end the state’s century-old commitment to steward its geographic assets for future generations without placing undue burden on host communities.
Nearly 50 percent of NYSDEC Region 7 forest lands are located in Chenango County, as well as 4,600 acres in the Pharsalia Wildlife Management Area. Chenango County is also the home to the South Otselic Fish Hatchery and the former Pheasant Farm in Sherburne.
With a motion supported by the supervisors from the towns of Pharaslia, German and Lincklaen, members of the Chenango County Finance Committee voted unanimously to pass up a resolution to the full Board of Supervisors calling on state lawmakers to reject the proposal and to continue the current system of tax payments on state-owned land.
“The move would shift the state’s financial responsibility unequally to local taxpayers in municipalities with the fewest residents and the greatest amount of state land,” the resolution stated.
In making the joint motion, Supervisor Dennis Brown, D-Pharsalia, said, “There are 11,800 acres of state land in Pharsalia. That’s over half of the town. ... We rely on this (state taxes) in our small town. The rewards for being a small town with a lot of state land aren’t a lot.”
Chenango County Real Property Tax Services Director Steve Harris explained that a proposal would freeze tax payouts for state land at last year’s rate.
“Neighbors are going to have to pick up the tab,” said Brown.
Harris pointed out that whole counties in the Adirondacks would be affected by the proposal.
New York has been required to pay full local property taxes as though privately held on certain state-owned lands, and certain conservation and common law easements acquired by the state including reforestation, game management, game farm, fish hatchery and forest preserve lands.
The proposal, before the state’s legislature, would essentially end the state’s century-old commitment to steward its geographic assets for future generations without placing undue burden on host communities.
Nearly 50 percent of NYSDEC Region 7 forest lands are located in Chenango County, as well as 4,600 acres in the Pharsalia Wildlife Management Area. Chenango County is also the home to the South Otselic Fish Hatchery and the former Pheasant Farm in Sherburne.
With a motion supported by the supervisors from the towns of Pharaslia, German and Lincklaen, members of the Chenango County Finance Committee voted unanimously to pass up a resolution to the full Board of Supervisors calling on state lawmakers to reject the proposal and to continue the current system of tax payments on state-owned land.
“The move would shift the state’s financial responsibility unequally to local taxpayers in municipalities with the fewest residents and the greatest amount of state land,” the resolution stated.
In making the joint motion, Supervisor Dennis Brown, D-Pharsalia, said, “There are 11,800 acres of state land in Pharsalia. That’s over half of the town. ... We rely on this (state taxes) in our small town. The rewards for being a small town with a lot of state land aren’t a lot.”
Chenango County Real Property Tax Services Director Steve Harris explained that a proposal would freeze tax payouts for state land at last year’s rate.
“Neighbors are going to have to pick up the tab,” said Brown.
Harris pointed out that whole counties in the Adirondacks would be affected by the proposal.
New York has been required to pay full local property taxes as though privately held on certain state-owned lands, and certain conservation and common law easements acquired by the state including reforestation, game management, game farm, fish hatchery and forest preserve lands.
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