Res 1283-2020

By Council Members Cornegy and Chin Whereas, The City of New York uses certain tax exemption or abatement programs to incentivize property owners to construct, convert, alter or improve buildings in order to provide affordable housing; and Whereas, Property owners who receive a tax exemption or abatement to provide affordable housing should not have a high number of Housing Maintenance Code violations; and Whereas, Affordable housing units should meet basic living and safety standards during the duration of a tenant's tenancy; and Whereas, New York State could establish or authorize enabling legislation to create a local property tax exemption/abatement audit program to review or assess residential properties that are receiving tax benefits and monitor the correction of violations; and Whereas, The Tax Exemption/Abatement Audit Program would work with New York City Housing Preservation and Development, New York City Department of Buildings and the New York City Department of Finance to coordinate investigative audits; and Whereas, When an owner fails to correct certain violations, the City should be permitted to make a recommendation to place a hold, suspension or withdrawal of a tax exemption/abatement benefit; and Whereas, This tax exemption/abatement audit program would help protect investments in affordable housing and improve housing conditions; now, therefore be it; Resolved, That the New York Council of the City of New York calls on the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign legislation that would create a Property Tax Exemption/Abatement Audit Program for residential properties. JLC LS 12177 02/07/2020