In response to the massive property damage caused by flooding across the Lake Ontario shoreline, Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) will be sponsoring legislation in the Assembly that will allow municipalities to reevaluate and reduce a resident’s tax burden if their property was damaged due to erosion and/or flooding. Included in the bill as well are provisions to help local governments recoup lost property-tax revenue by subsidizing them with state funds.

“It has been commonplace that many areas of the shoreline have completely eroded many feet inland, swallowing entire homes and businesses,” Hawley said. “As tragic as this is, it is important that these residents’ tax liabilities reflect what they have left and that the state step up to provide the difference to our local governments. I will fervently push this legislation in the Assembly and I am hopeful that it can be passed by the end of session in late June.”