Sweeney Bill Will Cut Sandy-Related Property Tax Bills

Legislation introduced by New York State Assemblyman Bob Sweeney (D-Lindenhurst) and passed unanimously earlier this year by the Assembly will allow adjustments on property tax bills for properties destroyed or severely damaged by Hurricane Sandy.

Dubbed the Hurricane Sandy Assessment Relief Act, the legislation (A02294) will provide property tax reductions for homes and businesses that were badly damaged, or destroyed, due to Hurricane Sandy.

The legislation applies in all counties declared a disaster area due to Sandy including Nassau and Suffolk, but excepting New York City, where separate legislation’s (A00039) been introduced.

“Hurricane Sandy inflicted widespread damage that's left hundreds of families facing overwhelming rebuilding costs,” Assemblyman Sweeney said in a release about this bill.

“This legislation would provide significant savings to families and property owners, and would relieve at least some of the financial burden many New Yorkers are shouldering right now,” Sweeney continued.

Current law fixes a date, now passed, to finalize tax assessments, which is used to determine tax bills. Local governments may not change assessments after that date; under current law, upcoming tax bills will reflect properties’ conditions before Sandy occurred on October 29, 2012.

Without the legislation homeowners hit hard by Sandy would be required to pay the full tax bill, according to the assemblyman.

Sweeney recently told Patch about this legislation - which is now being sponsored by Senator Phil Boyle (R-East Islip) in the Senate - " Homeowners shouldn't be paying full taxes if their houses are severely damaged or unusable."

He felt this bill would be another step in helping Sandy victims recover.

According to the assemblyman, if this bill becomes law, then property owners will be spared from paying full taxes on homes that are no longer there or no longer habitable.

"This is a simple question of fairness", he added.

The legislation will allow municipalities, including school districts, to lower tax assessments on properties damaged 50 percent or more by Hurricane Sandy for upcoming tax bills.

In areas outside of New York City, assessment changes are determined by the municipal tax assessor.

The program can be adopted by counties, towns, cities, villages and school districts in the affected area, according to Sweeney.

If a reduction is granted and taxes haven't yet been paid, then the tax will be reduced. But if taxes have already been paid, then a refund will be provided.

"How much the assessments can be lowered depends on the amount of damage the home sustained. It's graduated," Sweeney told Patch.

A release from Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver’s office about Sweeney’s legislation explained how the reductions would be assessed on a sliding scale:

• 50 but less than 60 percent loss in value, taxable assessed value would be reduced by 55 percent.
• 60 but less than 70 percent loss in value, taxable assessed value would be reduced by 65 percent.
• 70 but less than 80 percent loss in value, taxable assessed value would be reduced by 75 percent.
• 80 but less than 90 percent loss in value, taxable assessed value would be reduced by 85 percent.
• 90 but less than 100 percent loss in value, taxable assessed value would be reduced by 95 percent.
• 100 percent loss, taxable assessed value would be reduced to zero.