BILL NUMBER: S6015
SPONSOR: BASKIN
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the Erie county tax act, in relation to decreasing the
time a vacant property may sit in foreclosure in Erie county
 
PURPOSE:
To allow Erie County to foreclose on a property, certified as vacant and
abandoned by a municipality, after one year of delinquent taxes instead
of two years.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill amends chapter 812 of the laws of 1942, constitut-
ing the Erie county tax act, by providing authority to foreclose on
vacant and abandoned real property following one year of tax delinquen-
cy.
Section 2 establishes the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The issue of vacant and abandoned or "Zombie" foreclosures has been the
cause of blight in neighborhoods across New York State since the fore-
closure crisis began: Erie County is no exception. While some banks have
chosen to comply with the new maintenance standards set out in the Fore-
closure Relief Act of 2016, some have chosen instead to walk away from
properties and stop paying the property taxes. This leaves vacant prop-
erties to sit while municipalities wait for two years of delinquent
taxes before a County tax foreclosure can begin. Often times two years
without maintenance can result in a property deteriorating beyond the
point of repair and the municipality may be left with the responsibility
and cost of demolition.
In allowing Erie County to foreclose after one year of delinquent taxes
on vacant and abandoned properties, the County can facilitate the trans-
fer of these properties to a more productive use.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: S6487
2021-22: S.3858
2019-20: S.253
2017-18: S.6580
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.