BILL NUMBER: S9606
SPONSOR: ORTT
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend subpart H of part C of chapter 20 of the laws of 2015,
relating to appropriating money for certain municipal corporations and
school districts, in relation to authorizing Barker central school
district to receive assistance for an additional three years
 
PURPOSE:
Authorizes the Barker Central School District, in the county of Niagara,
to receive assistance from the Urban Development Corporation for an
additional three years.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. Authorizes the Barker Central School District, in the county
of Niagara, to receive assistance from the Urban Development Corporation
for an additional three years. The maximum potential award for the addi-
tional three years shall be no more than 20% of the loss of revenues.
 
EXISTING LAW:
Under existing law, counties, cities, towns, villages, school districts
or special districts where an electric generating facility located with-
in such local government entity has ceased operations, and the closure
of such facility has caused a reduction in the real property tax
collections or payments in lieu of taxes of at least 20% owed by such
facility, the urban development corporation shall pay such municipality
on a payment schedule as outlined below:
Award Year Maximum Potential Award
1 no more than eighty percent of loss of revenues
2 no more than seventy percent of loss of revenues
3 no more than sixty percent of loss of revenues
4 no more than fifty percent of loss of revenues
5 no more than forty percent of loss of revenues
6 no more than thirty percent of loss of revenues
7 no more than twenty percent of loss of revenues
 
JUSTIFICATION:
This legislation would extend the payment schedule for the Barker
Central School District to years eight, nine and ten at no more than 20%
of loss of revenues. The closure of the generating facility owned by the
Somerset Operating Company significantly decreased the tax base within
the school district's boundaries, which has created a dire financial
situation where the end of cessation mitigation funds will create
extreme hardship on the district's students and faculty and lead to the
restrictions of the Barker Central School District. Without this addi-
tional funding, the school district would face an existential crisis
financially. This would allow the school district to plan financially
and continue to offer education to local school children.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the state as the fund is currently capped at $140 million and
this legislation does not lift that cap
 
LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.