2007-08 Centralized Property Tax Administration Program

Request for Applications

Purpose

The Office of Real Property Services (ORPS) has established the Centralized Property Tax Administration Program (the Grant Program) to increase the efficiency and competitiveness of local governments throughout New York State. The result of this program will be more integrated cooperative efforts among municipal governments that will reduce the redundancy and cost of essential real property assessment activity within counties. The program will also support the establishment of county databases to provide officials of towns, cities, school districts, and county governments access to the tax payment status of all real property parcels within the county.

Application Submission Timetable

The grant application deadline has been extended until July 1, 2008. Award notification will be made by July 31, 2008.

Eligibility

Any county not already serving as an assessing unit in New York State may apply.

Questions

Questions must be submitted via email to:
2007-08countygrantprogram@orps.state.ny.us. Responses will be posted on the CPTAP Questions and Answers Page.

Fund Disbursement

• For the County Assessing initiative, $25,000 will be advanced to counties to prepare a study for the implementation of a program of county assessing or county coordinated assessing for all municipalities within the county. An additional $25,000 will be awarded upon receipt by ORPS of a copy of the study and a copy of the minutes of the county legislature or board of supervisors meeting that indicate the plan has been received by the county legislature or board of supervisors.
• For the County Tax Collection Information initiative, $25,000 will be advanced to counties to prepare a study for the implementation of a county-level database through which the taxable status, and tax and payment history of every real property parcel in the county may be ascertained. The study must include a plan for managing this data at the county level. Up to $25,000 will be provided to defray the cost of implementation upon submission by the county to ORPS of an executed contract between the county and the technology contractor who will create the database.
• Any new county assessing unit will receive $2 per parcel upon submission of proof that a referendum to establish a county assessing unit has been approved by the voters.
• For county coordinated assessment programs, counties will receive $2 per parcel for new Coordinated Assessment Programs (CAPS) in which the assessment function is managed by counties and in which are incorporated all real property parcels in the county. Counties will receive $1 per parcel for new CAPS in which the assessment function is managed by counties, but in which less than 100% of the real property parcels in the county are incorporated. Funds will be disbursed upon receipt by ORPS of the executed agreements between the municipal participants and the county.
• These payments are in addition to any payments available under the existing State Aid programs available through ORPS.
• Only one grant is available per county per initiative.

General Application Submission

1. For the County Assessing study, submit a letter of application signed by the chief executive of the county. The letter must include the following information:
   • The number of assessing units currently operating in the county.
   • The number of special taxing districts, including school districts, currently operating in the county.
   • An estimate of the timeline necessary for the implementation of county assessing.
2. For the County Tax Collection Information study, submit a letter of application signed by the chief executive of the county. The letter must include the following information:
   • The number of real property parcels in the county, organized by assessing unit.
   • The number of tax collection offices in each of the county's assessing units.
   • An estimate of the timeline necessary for the implementation of countywide tax parcel management.
3. For the other components of this program, submit a letter of application along with the required documents mentioned above.