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Schoharie County towns file lawsuit against N.Y. over solar, wind farm tax methods
Credit: by Briana Supardi | Thu, May 2nd 2024 at cbs6albany.com ~~
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Translate: FROM English | TO English
More than a dozen towns in Schoharie County are suing the state of New York, claiming they’re not only being low-balled by the state’s method of taxing solar and wind projects, but that the new rules are unconstitutional.
In 2021, the state established new rules requiring solar and wind farms that generate over one megawatt of electricity be assessed using a model formula.
However, the town supervisors, listed as plaintiffs in the lawsuit, contend that local assessors have the “ultimate authority as to what the appropriate methodology for determining the assessed value of property in their jurisdiction is,” and that the state mandating this standardized tax valuation method for solar and wind farms violate the constitution.
The towns argue that this discounted approach in assessing the value of these renewable energy projects will deflate values where localities will lose out on millions of dollars in property tax revenue.
“I can’t blame any of these towns or smaller counties for doing this,” said Assemblyman Chris Tague (R), who represents Schoharie County. “[The state] comes in, they take productive farm land, in some cases, other valuable land, they turn it into solar, it’s taxed in a much smaller rate.”
“If we were benefiting from this renewable energy. It wouldn’t be so hard to take, but we’re not benefitting one bit,” Tague said.
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