BEST PRACTICE: NCCI Gears Up for
Local
Enactment of Real Property Tax Exemptions
PLATTSBURGH, NY – December 10,
2003.
The North Country Center of
Independence (NCCI) recently started the process to implement Section 459-c of
the New York State Real Property Tax Law in the City of Plattsburgh by the year
2005. Section 459-c of the New York State Real Property Tax Law gives local
governments and public school districts the option of granting a reduction in
the amount of property taxes paid by qualifying New Yorkers with
disabilities.
"The basic exemption is a fifty
percent reduction in the assessment value of the legal residence of the person
with a disability enrolled in the program. For the basic exemption, the law
allows each county, city, town village, or school district to set the maximum
income limit for participating at any figure between $3,000 and $20,500 for
their annual gross income. Localities have the further option of giving
exemptions of less than fifty percent to qualifying individuals with
disabilities whose income is more than $20,500. This ‘sliding scale’
option allows an owner to benefit from a five percent reduction in the home's
assessed value when gross family income is up to $28,899 in localities offering
the maximum benefit."
The NCCI realizes the exceptional
value the enactment of Section 459-c will have for people with disabilities and
is working hard to develop a strong plan for the implementation of this law in
the City of Plattsburgh in the very near future.
When asked about the implementation
status of the Real Property Tax Law Exemption, Robert Poulin, systems advocate
for the NCCI responded that, "We (the NCCI) are still in the process of
developing a strategy that will help us target each township in our area most
effectively. Since most governments are either deep into the budget process or
completely done with the budgets for 2004, we have been told to expect action
to be taken for 2005."
Poulin added, "Our current strategy
is to focus on the City of Plattsburg. If we can get it passed here
(Plattsburgh) we can start a letter campaign to other municipalities with
 Plattsburgh as
encouragement. I am also looking at training early next year for network
volunteers, who can help us reach all the localities."
Contact your local clerk or
assessor’s office to find out if your municipality participates in these
options. Additional information is available at the NYS Office of Real
Properties, (518) 486-5446, or at www.orps.state.ny.us. The North Country
Center for Independence’s (NCCI’s) website is
www.ncci-online.com.
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