Running a Small Agricultural Business : Example Steps to Follow in Applying for Agricultural Assessment

Example Steps to Follow in Applying for Agricultural Assessment

Washington County, NY

1. Landowner must obtain a tax map of each parcel from the Real Property Tax Office (Municipal Center, Building B, 2nd fl., Fort Edward). Each map costs $7. Your parcel(s) may be contained on one tax map or may overlap onto more than one map.
2. Landowner makes an appointment with the Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) by calling 692-9940 Ext. 3. The SWCD is located in the USDA Service Center, 2530 State Route 40, Greenwich. Appointments will be scheduled between November 1, 2002 and February 21. 2003.
3. A SWCD employee and the landowner will outline boundaries on a soil map using the tax map as a guide.
4. The SWCD employee will complete a Soil Group Worksheet within 2-7 days. Washington County SWCD charges $20.00 per parcel for Ag Assessment and $5.00 per parcel for revisions ofAg Assessment. The worksheet will indicate the number of acres per soil type and soil group. Assessors use this information to compute the parcel's Agricultural Assessment Value.
5. The landowner submits form RP-305, Agricultural Assessment Application, along with the Soil Group Worksheet and soil map, to the assessor, before March 1st.
6. The assessor determines eligibility of the parcel (this may require copies of two years' tax returns to prove financial eligibility). Assessor then calculates Ag Assessment on the eligible land.
7. If the landowner furnishes a self-addressed, stamped envelope with the application, the assessor must notify the landowner of approval, modification or denial of the application at least 10 days before the date for hearing assessment complaints.
8. Each year the eligible landowner must file a renewal form, RP-305-r, with the assessor prior to March 1st . It is not necessary to contact the SWCD for renewals unless parcel size, land use or ownership has changed.