NY A02166

Grants the City of Newburgh a partial real property tax exemption from the town of New Windsor, Newburgh Enlarged City School District, and Cornwall Central School District for the increase in assessed value of its water filtration plant attributable to construction of a granular activated carbon (GAC) treatment system.

The GAC system was constructed by New York State to remove PFAS contamination from Lake Washington, the City's drinking water source, after contamination was detected in 2014 and levels exceeded EPA safety standards in 2016.

The town of New Windsor reassessed the water filtration plant property after GAC system construction, resulting in a substantial tax increase, including a nearly $250,000 increase in taxes to the Newburgh Enlarged City School District between the 2016-2017 and 2018-2019 tax years.

Requires the City to withdraw and discontinue all pending tax certiorari proceedings against the town of New Windsor as a condition of receiving the exemption.

Mandates that the town and school districts make corrections to tax rolls, refund paid taxes, and cancel any unpaid taxes, fines, penalties, interest, or tax liens.