Lupardo Flood Assessment Relief Act Passes in Assembly
Bill would provide property tax relief for homeowners affected by June flood

Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo (D-Endwell) announced today that legislation she authored (A.4868) to provide relief to victims of the flooding last June passed unanimously (135-0) in the Assembly on Monday, February 26, 2007.

The Flood Assessment Relief Act of 2007 would allow qualifying property owners to have their homes reassessed at the value after the flood. Participating municipalities would then be able to issue refunds of property taxes paid for the 2006 tax year.

"Under state law, property tax bills are based on the value in March, but numerous homes were damaged in the flooding just three months after," Lupardo said. "This legislation will give municipalities the opportunity to provide property tax relief to victims of the unprecedented flooding last June."

Under the legislation, municipalities and school districts with 10 or more properties that sustained damages of 50 percent or more as a result of the flooding are eligible to participate in the reassessment if they provide written consent to the county. Counties affected by the June 2006 flooding must then pass a resolution by May 1, 2007 in order to be included.

"It's important that this isn't an unfunded mandate on our schools and local governments, which is why they will each have the option to participate," said Lupardo. "I am also working to get additional financial assistance included in the state budget to help offset the losses sustained by our schools and local governments as a result of the flooding last year."

The counties eligible to participate are:

Senator Thomas Libous (R-Binghamton) is sponsoring similar legislation in the Senate, which is currently in the Local Government committee. The bill would need to be amended and pass in the Senate before it is delivered to Governor Eliot Spitzer for his consideration.