[Adopted 2-13-2006 by L.L. No. 3-2006]
This article is enacted pursuant to § 483-b
of the Real Property Tax Law of the State of New York, as amended
through Chapter 759 of the Laws of 2005.
A.
Pursuant to the provisions of § 483-b of
the Real Property Tax Law of the State of New York, historic barns
located in the Town of Ithaca which are reconstructed or rehabilitated
shall be partially exempt from general municipal taxes to the extent
provided hereinafter. For the purposes of this article, an historic
barn shall mean a structure that was at least partially constructed
before 1936 and that was originally designed and used for storing
farm equipment or agricultural products, or for housing livestock.
B.
Historic barns shall be exempt for a period of one
year to the extent of 100% of the increase in assessed value thereof
attributable to such reconstruction or rehabilitation and for an additional
period of nine years subject to the following:
(1)
The extent of such exemption shall be decreased by
10% of the "exemption base" each year during such additional period.
The "exemption base" shall be the increase in assessed value as determined
in the initial year of the term of the exemption, except as provided
below.
(2)
In any year in which a change in level of assessment
of 15% or more is certified for a final assessment roll pursuant to
the rules of the State Board of Real Property Services of the State
of New York (or any successor agency), the exemption base shall be
recalculated and the exemption shall be recomputed as described in
§ 483-b of the Real Property Tax Law of the State of New
York.
C.
No such exemption shall be granted for reconstruction
or rehabilitation unless such reconstruction or rehabilitation was
commenced subsequent to the effective date of this article.
D.
No such exemption shall be granted to an historic
barn which is receiving an exemption pursuant to § 483 of
the Real Property Tax Law of the State of New York or which has received
an exemption pursuant to that section within 10 years of the date
of the application for exemption filed pursuant to this article.
E.
No such exemption shall be granted to an historic
barn which is used for residential purposes.
F.
No such exemption shall be granted for reconstruction
and rehabilitation expenses that materially alter the historic appearance
of the barn.
G.
The partial exemption provided by this article shall,
however, be limited to such property and persons as meet the conditions,
qualifications, exclusions and limitations set forth in § 483-b
of the Real Property Tax Law of the State of New York. This article
shall be administered in accordance with said section of the Real
Property Tax Law as now adopted and as it may be amended from time
to time, and the provisions of said section shall be applicable to
the effectuation of the exemption provided for in this article.
Such exemption shall be granted only upon successful
application by the owner or all the owners of such barn on forms prescribed
by the State Board of Real Property Services of the State of New York
(or any successor agency). The owner or owners shall furnish the information
and execute the forms in the manner required or prescribed in such
forms and shall file such forms in the Tompkins County Assessment
office on or before the appropriate taxable status date. Such exemption
shall be granted only if the appropriate assessing authority approves
the application.
This article shall apply to assessment rolls
prepared after the effective date of this article on the basis of
taxable status dates occurring on or after March 1, 2006.
