BILL NUMBER: S8938
SPONSOR: OBERACKER
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the general municipal law and the tax law, in relation
to including Sullivan county as a designated community for purposes of
community preservation funds
 
PURPOSE:
To allow municipalities in Sullivan County to establish locally tailored
farmland preservation plans funded through a real property transfer tax.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Summary of Provisions:
Section 1 amends paragraph (d) of subdivision 1 of section 6-s of the
general municipal law, as amended by chapter 608 of the laws of 2019 to
include Sullvan County as a "Designated Community"
Section 2 amends subdivision 11 of section 1560 of the tax law, as
amended by chapter 608 of laws of 2019 to include Sullivan County as a
"Designated Community"
Section 4 establishes the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Sullivan County municipalities have expressed interest in creating their
own Open Space and Farmland Protection Programs through the establish-
ment of Community Preservation Programs. These Programs would allow
municipalities to develop plans and provide funds, through the imposi-
tion of a real property transfer tax, for the protection and preserva-
tion of farmlands within their communities.
This has the full support of the Sullivan County Agriculture and Farm-
land Protection Board as well as the Sullivan County Legislature as they
identify protecting farmland as a priority strategy for sustaining the
county's agricultural economy and rural character and will use the
Community Preservation Program to further these goals.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
None
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately

Statutes affected:
S8938: 1560 tax law, 1560(11) tax law