The Peru Gazette

From the Office of Assemblyman D. Billy Jones

Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay) announced that the Assembly’s budget proposal maintains the current tax structure for Forest Preserve lands in order to protect the North Country economy, rejecting the governor’s proposal to cap taxes and shift to payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTs).

“Changing the way state land in the Adirondacks is taxed could have a negative impact on our municipalities,” said Jones. “A shift to PILOTs means less leverage for towns, leaving local taxpayers with the burden of making up for those losses. The Assembly budget proposal is doing right by the North Country by rejecting this measure.”

Jones has previously voiced his concerns about the proposal to change the way taxes are assessed for state property and advocated to Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie on behalf of North Country communities that depend on tax revenue from state lands. By continuing to assess Forest Preserve lands in the same manner as private lands, the state would keep paying taxes to the communities that contain these lands, providing vital funding. These payments are an important source of revenue for the North Country and help local governments provide critical services. Without them, the North Country loses leverage, taxpayers face a bigger burden and our land and resources are put at risk, Jones noted.

Jones acknowledged the efforts of Adirondack towns and organizations to oppose this amendment.

“I applaud towns, villages, counties and school districts affected by this measure for coming to the aid of our taxpayers,” said Jones.  Their level of advocacy against this proposal has ensured that the hardworking taxpayers of the North Country are not bearing unnecessary additional costs.”