BILL NUMBER:  S4727

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the real property tax law, in
relation to the definition of "eligible tract" for the purposes of the
taxation of forest land

 PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: :  This bill would amend the real
property tax law, to amend the definition of "Eligible tract".

 SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS :  This bill would amend the real
property tax law, to amend the definition of "Eligible tract".

Presently an "Eligible tract" is defined as "a tract of privately
owned forest land of at least fifty contiguous acres, exclusive of any
portion thereof not devoted to the production of forest crops.

" Lands, however, from which a merchantable forest crop has been cut
or removed within three years prior to the time of application are
ineligible unless such cutting or removal was accomplished under a
forest management program designed to provide for the continuing
production of merchantable forest crops.

This bill would reduce the amount of required contiguous acres of an
eligible tract from 50 to 25, thereby permitting 25 acres of
contiguous, privately owned forest land to be eligible for a tax
exemption under the state real property tax law.
              

 JUSTIFICATION: :  This bill would reduce the amount of contiguous
acres of privately held forest land necessary to qualify as an
eligible tract for the purposes of a real property tax exemption.

By so reducing this amount, this bill would promote the protection and
preservation of privately owned forest land in New York, promoting
greenspace and preserving our state's environment and scenic beauty.

The present requirements that an eligible tract of privately held
forest land must contain at least 50 acres, contained within the real
property tax law, provides a disincentive for any private property
owner to preserve as natural space, any amount of forest land of less
than 50 contiguous acres.

With the high value of real estate, and the burdensome level of real
property taxes assessed thereon, this artificially high threshold
virtually guarantees that landowners will be forced to sell or develop
these properties rather than maintain them in their natural state.

This bill would provide an incentive to maintain these natural lands,
by reducing the heavy real property tax burden of carrying the same.

 PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: :  2008 - S2396 - Referred to the Standing
Committee on Local Government

 FISCAL IMPACT :  This bill would have no state fiscal impact, and any
local fiscal impact should be offset by the reduction in services
incumbent with the development of natural forest lands.

 EFFECTIVE DATE: :  This act would take effect immediately.