Tax Act Study Committee

Jurisdiction

Introduction Resolution Number 1685-2016 | Introduced by Legislator Cilmi | Laid on Table July 26, 2016

Resolution No. 753-2016, Establishing a Suffolk County Tax Act Study Committee

Whereas, the Suffolk County Tax Act (“Tax Act”) governs how property taxes are assessed and collected within the County of Suffolk; and

Whereas, certain aspects of the Tax Act create cash flow issues for the County and other local taxing jurisdictions; and

Whereas, the Tax Act imposes significant responsibilities upon the County   government; for example, the County General Fund is required to make all other taxing jurisdictions whole when property owners are delinquent in paying their taxes; and

Whereas, the Suffolk County Tax Act was originally enacted by the New York State Legislature nearly a century ago; and

Whereas, it is appropriate and necessary to form a committee to review the Suffolk County Tax Act to determine whether changes can be made to improve the County’s method of collecting property taxes; now, therefore be it

1st Resolved, that a Suffolk County Tax Act Study Committee is hereby established to review the Tax Act, to compare and contrast the enforcement and collection provisions of the Tax Act with those set forth in New York Real Property Tax Law and to recommend amendments to the Tax Act that would benefit the County of Suffolk and all taxing jurisdictions within the County; and be it further

2nd Resolved, that the Committee shall consist of the following membership:

1. the County Executive, or his or her designee;
2. the County Comptroller, or his or her designee;
3. the Director of the Division of Budget, or his or her designee;
4. the Director of the Legislative Budget Review Office, or his or her designee;
5. a County Legislator appointed by the Majority Leader of the County Legislature;
6. a County Legislator appointed by the Minority Leader of the County Legislature;
7. the County Attorney, or his or her designee; and
8. the Counsel to the County Legislature, or his or her designee;

and be it further

3rd Resolved, that five (5) members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum to transact business of the Committee; and be it further

4th Resolved, that the Committee shall select a Chairperson, determine the rules of   its proceedings, set a meeting schedule and, if necessary, schedule hearings to take public testimony; and be it further

5th Resolved, that clerical services involving the operation of this Committee, as well as supplies and postage, will be provided by the staff of the Suffolk County Legislature; and be it further

6th Resolved, that the Committee shall issue a report of its findings and   recommendations within one (1) year of the effective date of this resolution; and be it further

7th Resolved, that this Legislature, being the State Environmental Quality Review Act   (SEQRA) lead agency, hereby finds and determines that this resolution constitutes a Type II action pursuant to Section 617.5(c)(20), (21) and (27) of Title 6 of the New York Code of Rules and Regulations (6 NYCRR) and within the meaning of Section 8-0109(2) of the New York Environmental Conservation Law as a promulgation of regulations, rules, policies, procedures, and legislative decisions in connection with continuing agency administration, management and information collection, and the Suffolk County Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) is hereby directed to circulate any appropriate SEQRA notices of determination of non-applicability or non-significance in accordance with this resolution.

Dated: September 7, 2016

Approved By:

/s/ Steven Bellone

County Executive of Suffolk County

Date: September 9, 2016