Meeting About Ag District and Ag Value Assessment Feb. 2 in Mexico

From Oswego County Farm Bureau:

Oswego County Farm Bureau, as a part of their Coffeecake Meeting Series, will host a Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County discussion of the Agriculture District Review currently being done at 2 p.m. Monday Feb. 2 at the Oswego County Federal Credit Union, 5828 Scenic Ave., Mexico.

All farms in the Oswego Count Ag District are reviewed every eight years and will have to be reauthorized for the district. This a very important component of every farm operation in the county. 

Also speaking at the meeting will be John DeHollander of the Oswego County Soil and Water District regarding Ag Value Assessment and how this program affects your property taxes. Take this opportunity to learn from the experts about the Ag District and Ag Value Assessment protections and how they affect your farm and farmland, whether you are farming it yourself or are renting land to another farm. 

Agricultural Land Assessment Cap Bill Signed by Cuomo

Gov. Andrew Cuomo today signed a law to cap agricultural land assessments at 2 percent per year.

This is a bill New York Farm Bureau has been lobbying for months.

The governor's office said signing this bill into law ensures a more predictable tax climate for the state's agricultural sector. And putting this bill with the 2 percent property tax cap, farmers will be able to stay on their land and reinvest some of the money that would have gone for taxes into their operations.

“Protecting our farmers from unsustainable tax hikes is part of our work to change our state’s reputation as the tax capital of the nation by controlling spending while reducing the tax burden on New Yorkers,” Cuomo said.

“Agriculture is big business in New York and our state government is committed to doing everything we can to help this vital industry thrive and continue to create jobs and economic prosperity, particularly Upstate, he said. "This new law is a great example of just how far we’ve come and will help ensure that agricultural lands remain in the hands of hard working families for generations to come.”

According to the governor's office, during the past seven years, the base assessment value for agricultural lands has nearly doubled, leading to skyrocketing property tax increases. This, coupled with increases in municipal and school taxes, has led to a difficult business climate for some farmers. 

Previously, the annual change in the base agricultural assessment property value could not exceed 10 percent. The new legislation provides for an annual assessment increase of no more than 2 percent.

New York Farm Bureau was thrilled the bill was signed into law.

"In recent years, farmers have carried an increasingly heavy property tax burden that is second highest in the country and more than triple the national average," said Farm Bureau President Dean Norton. "But today, we will begin to get those skyrocketing property taxes under control. The cap will limit increases of agricultural assessment to no more than 2 percent a year."

"This does not mean farmers won’t be paying their fair share of taxes. It simply will control the rate of escalation that will make it easier for our family farms to budget for and pay their taxes," Norton said.  "By putting pen to paper, Governor Cuomo has given another boost to our family farms that contribute greatly to both the physical and economic health of their communities, and New York Farm Bureau very much appreciates his continued partnership with us on critical economic issues."

New York Farm Bureau also worked closely with many agricultural organizations to make today a reality. In addition, Sen. Patty Ritchie, R-Oswegatchie, and Assemblyman Bill Magee, D-Nelson, ushered the bill through their respective houses culminating in unanimous bipartisan victories.

To all of them, New York Farm Bureau expresses sincere gratitude for being our partners as well, Norton said

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NYS Assembly Passes Agricultural Land Assessment Cap Bill

Dean Norton

News from New York Farm Bureau:

Farmers in this state just received a big boost to help contain rising property taxes, with the state Assembly's unanimous passage of a bill that will cap agricultural land assessment increases at 2 percent a year.

The state Senate already has passed the legislation. The bill now goes to Gov. Andrew Cuomo for his signature.

This bill has been a top priority for New York Farm Bureau this legislative session.There has been great concern among our farmer members who have seen rising land values push up property tax bills for farmland in recent years, essentially doubling since 2006.

Agricultural land assessments are dictated by a complicated formula that takes into account national production value statistics and soil type.Currently, New York farmers pay $38.41 per acre in property taxes, according to Farm Credit East. That is the second highest rate in the country and eats up 15 percent of a farm’s net income.  This puts farmers in this state at a clear competitive disadvantage.

“The passage of the 2 percent cap on agricultural assessments is welcomed news on farms all across New York," said New York Farm Bureau President Dean Norton. "Not one has been immune to the skyrocketing property taxes that make it more difficult to provide local food and products to their communities. ... We are hopeful Governor Cuomo will sign off on the legislation that will go a long way to keep New York families on their farms.”

While the legislation will address the immediate needs of farmers, New York Farm Bureau also is advocating for the establishment of a working group comprised of stakeholders and experts to address the long term problem of agricultural assessment valuation.

 

New York Farm Bureau Calls for Ag Land Assessment Cap

Here is a release from New York Farm Bureau:

Farm Bureau officials Tuesday called on state Assembly members to cap agricultural land assessments at 2 percent.

Rising land assessments dictated by a complicated formula that takes into account national production value statistics and soil type is forcing up the overall tax bill on farmland. Currently, New York farmers pay $38.41 per acre in property taxes, according to Farm Credit East.  That is the second highest rate in the country and eats up 15 percent of a farm’s net income. This puts farmers in this state at a clear competitive disadvantage.

The skyrocketing tax bills show no sign of slowing down, which could ultimately force farmers off their land. In the past 10 years, property taxes have essentially doubled for New York’s farms.

This added expense comes at a time when additional farm costs are also rising including those for fuel, feed, labor and health care. All of these weigh heavily on a farm’s bottom line, and also dissuades new farmers who are unable to afford purchasing land from taking part in the state’s long tradition of providing food, fuel and fiber.

This bill has already passed unanimously in a strong bipartisan show of support in the State Senate, and New York Farm Bureau is hoping lawmakers in the Assembly will support the state’s hard working farmers in these final weeks of the legislative session. 

While this will address the immediate needs of our farmer members, New York Farm Bureau is also advocating for the establishment of a working group comprised of stakeholders and experts to address the long term problem of agricultural assessment valuation.

“If we are going to have a healthy agricultural economy in this state, it is time we take the necessary step to implement a 2 percent cap on agricultural land assessments," said New York Farm Bureau President Dean Norton. "New York farmers deserve a fair shot when it comes to selling their quality products in a competitive marketplace."

“From 1990 to 2006, the average ag assessment value was $550 for a particular soil class. For 2013, the ag assessment value for this same soil class is $1,000,” said Barry Flansberg, town assessor for Oakfield, Elba and Byron in Genesee County and Barre in Orleans County.

“From my professional perspective in an area that has a strong agricultural presence, farming has evolved and modernized since the 1970s, but the ag assessment system has not," Flansberg said. "It is not reflective of what’s happening in the fields today and no longer is a reasonable and consistent system.”

Bills to Cap Agricultural Land Assessments Receiving Attention

Go to the http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20130528/NEWS03/705289943 link here to read the story.