NY A06918

Authorizes the Town of Copake in Columbia County to establish a community preservation fund through local law, funded by a real estate transfer tax of up to 2% on property conveyances, subject to mandatory voter referendum

Fund purposes include preserving open space, agricultural land, wetlands, forests, historic properties, scenic areas, and wildlife habitat, as well as establishing parks, nature preserves, and recreation areas

Requires creation of a 5-7 member advisory board with demonstrated conservation experience (including at least one active farmer) to review and recommend property acquisitions

Provides exemptions from the transfer tax for government entities, gifts, tax sales, properties with conservation easements, conveyances to nonprofit conservation organizations, and an exemption equal to the county's median residential sales price

Properties acquired with fund money cannot be sold or disposed of without state legislative approval requiring substitution of land with equal environmental value; the authorization expires December 31, 2045