Bill > S06664

This bill authorizes the town of Copake to establish a community preservation fund and impose a real estate transfer tax to support land conservation and community character preservation efforts. The bill allows the town to create a special fund that can receive revenues from a real estate transfer tax of up to 2%, with the funds to be used exclusively for preserving community character through various means such as protecting open spaces, agricultural lands, scenic areas, wildlife habitats, historic sites, and creating parks or nature preserves. The town must establish an advisory board to review and make recommendations on potential land acquisitions, and must develop a comprehensive community preservation project plan that outlines specific preservation priorities. The bill provides detailed guidelines for how the fund can be used, including limitations on management expenses and requirements for public accessibility of preserved lands. The tax would be subject to a mandatory referendum, and the provisions are set to expire on December 31, 2045. Importantly, the bill includes provisions to ensure transparency, such as requiring public hearings before land acquisitions and mandating that preserved lands be managed in a way that maintains their ecological and cultural value.

Government Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S6664