N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 9 § 5.63
WHEREAS, beginning on January 7, 1998, a severe storm system with a combination of rain, freezing rain, and ice caused widespread power outages and disrupted vital transportation and public safety systems in the counties and the contiguous areas of Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Lewis;
WHEREAS, this event resulted in personal hardship and damage to residential and commercial property, and it continues to pose a threat to the public health and safety;
WHEREAS, by Executive Order Number 60.1, I declared a Disaster Emergency in the affected counties, and directed State agencies to respond as necessary to assist those affected counties in restoring vital public transportation systems and to provide such other assistance as necessary to protect the public health and safety;
WHEREAS, real property taxes for the 1998 fiscal year are currently due in the affected counties;
WHEREAS, by virtue of section 924 of the Real Property Tax Law, such taxes would normally be payable without interest only through January 31, 1998;
WHEREAS, January 31, 1998 being a Saturday, by virtue of section 925-a(1) of the Real Property Tax Law, the period for paying such taxes without interest is automatically extended until the next business day, which is February 2, 1998;
WHEREAS, such taxes would normally be subject to interest if paid after that date;
WHEREAS, section 925-a(2) of the Real Property Tax Law, as added by Chapter 389 of the Laws of 1997, authorizes the Governor to issue an Executive Order during a State Disaster Emergency, extending the period for paying real property taxes without interest by up to seven days in a county, city, town, village or school district in the affected area, if the Chief Executive Officer of the county, city, town, village, or school district requests such an extension;
WHEREAS, a request for such an extension has been received on behalf of Jefferson county; and
WHEREAS, given the hardships continuing to face the people of Jefferson County as a result of the ice storm, such an extension is eminently warranted;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE E. PATAKI, Governor of the State of New York, pursuant to section 925-a(2) of the Real Property Tax Law, do hereby extend by seven days the period for paying without interest the real property taxes that are currently due in Jefferson County, so that such taxes shall be payable without interest through February 9, 1998; and
FURTHER, by virtue of the same section 925-a(2) of the Real Property Tax Law, any taxes not paid by such date shall be subject to the same penalties and interest that would have applied if no such extension had been granted.
Signed: George E. Pataki
Dated: January 28, 1998
N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 9 § 5.63