Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (I, D, WF-Sag Harbor) announced that the Agricultural Land Assessment Cap resulted in farmers paying $11 million less in agricultural property taxes last year. Signed into law in 2013, the law ensures that any increase in the agricultural assessment will be no more than two percent per year for farmers.

“Especially here on the East End where farming is such an integral part of the economy and community, we need to help protect our farmers and ensure that they can remain here and actively farm without being driven out by high taxes,” said Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr.

The base assessment value for agricultural lands nearly doubled over the seven years prior to this new assessment relief, despite a ten percent cap on annual assessment growth. The Department of Taxation and Finance projects the two percent cap will yield even greater benefits to farmers in 2015.