Real Property Services, Office of
skip breadcrumbs| All amounts are in dollars |
| Category | Available 2007-08 |
Appropriations Recommended 2008-09 |
Change From 2007-08 |
Reappropriations Recommended 2008-09 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Operations | 44,808,000 | 45,043,000 | 235,000 | 0 |
| Aid To Localities | 20,800,000 | 21,834,000 | 1,034,000 | 0 |
| Total | 65,608,000 | 66,877,000 | 1,269,000 | 0 |
| Full-Time Equivalent Positions (FTE) |
| Program | 2007-08 Estimated FTEs 03/31/08 |
2008-09 Estimated FTEs 03/31/09 |
FTE Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Policy and Organizational Support Services | |||
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 392 | 384 | -8 |
| Total | 392 | 384 | -8 |
Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/22/08.
Mission
The Office of Real Property Services is statutorily charged with the general supervision of local property tax administration in New York. The Office plays a major role in developing the State's property tax policy and helps local governments with property tax administration including the necessary review and equalization of local assessments for purposes of taxation. Through targeted local assistance programs and incentives, the Office is committed to improving and transforming the local property tax system in New York State into a highly efficient, equitable and cost-effective operation, statewide.
Budget Highlights
The 2008-09 Executive Budget recommends $66.9 million in All Funds appropriations ($3.8 million General Fund, $63.1 million Other Funds) for the Office of Real Property Services. This is an increase of $1.3 million from the 2007-08 budget consisting of a $17.0 million reduction in the General Fund offset by an $18.3 million increase in Other Funds. This net change primarily reflects a restructuring of local assistance funding as part of an overall effort to reform local property tax administration.
The Executive Budget recommends a staffing level of 384 FTEs for the Office of Real Property Services, a decrease of eight FTEs from the 2007-08 budget that is largely attributable to reduced staffing needs resulting from restructuring agency administrative support functions.
Major budget actions include:
- Investments to Reform Local Property Tax Administration: The Executive Budget includes new financial incentives and technology investments to improve local property tax administration based on recommendations of the Commission on Local Government Efficiency and Competitiveness. This initiative will encourage the consolidation of property assessment and tax collection functions at the county level to bring greater efficiency, equity and transparency to property tax administration.
- Targeted Fee Increases: The Executive Budget recommends increases in the real property transfer fee to: support new local assessment incentives and technology investments; consolidate funding for most agency Local Assistance programs within the Agency's Special Revenue account; and ensure adequate support for agency operating expenses. The fee will be modified from a flat charge of $75 for residential property purchases and $165 for commercial property purchases to a priced-based assessment, with the increases targeted to higher priced real estate sales and ranging up to $400 for residential property sales over $1 million and $575 for commercial property sales over $1 million. Under this new targeted fee structure, more than half of all purchasers will not incur added costs over the present fee structure.
- Administrative Efficiencies: The Executive Budget will seek greater operational efficiencies for the Office through a host agency arrangement intended to reduce overall costs for administrative support functions.
2008-09 Executive Budget — Agency Presentation
Real Property Services, Office of (PDF)