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Syracuse council moves to correct local law so tax exemptions work with state changes
Summary
Councilors discussed a time-sensitive amendment to a 2019 city local law so exemptions will align with 2021 New York State changes; counsel said the mayor used a message of necessity and approval would require a two-thirds vote to make exemptions effective Jan. 1.
Syracuse City Council members on the study-session dais discussed an amendment intended to correct discrepancies between the city's 2019 local law and subsequent 2021 changes enacted by the New York State Legislature.
Matt OJ, commissioner of assessment, told the council that the mayor had "issued a message of necessity" and asked that the council act on item 30 during the current session so that exemptions could "be effective on January 1." Joe Barry, First Assistant Corporation Counsel, said the municipal home rule law allows the mayor to advance time-sensitive measures but that doing so "is subject to a two thirds vote of the council."
Barry and assessment staff said the city's 2019 local law does not match the later state amendments, a gap that has left roughly nine properties approved under prior practices that do not align with current state law. Barry said the proposed local amendment would "bring us all up to date" so applications already submitted could be acted on by assessment.
Several councilors said they were concerned about operating under a local law that differs from state law and about the legal status of exemptions already granted. Assessment staff said they were comfortable with the particulars of the existing projects but agreed the statutory mismatch needs correction.
The council later moved into executive session for legal advice related to item 30. The motion to adjourn to executive session was made and seconded, and members approved it by voice vote.
Next steps: the council must consider the amendment in public session with the required two-thirds vote for the mayor's message of necessity to carry the exemption into effect by Jan. 1.
