1021-L - Exemption of the authority from taxation.

§  1021-l.  Exemption  of the authority from taxation. 1. It is hereby  found and declared that the operation of the authority is primarily  for  the  benefit of the people of the participating municipalities, counties  and the  state,  for  the  improvement  of  their  health,  welfare  and  prosperity, and is a public purpose, and the authority shall be regarded  as  performing  an  essential  governmental function in carrying out the  provisions of this title.    2. The authority shall be required to pay  no  taxes  nor  assessments  upon  any  of  the  property  acquired  or  controlled by it or upon its  activities in the operation  and  maintenance  thereof  or  upon  income  derived  therefrom,  provided  that  nothing  herein  shall  prevent the  authority from entering into agreements to  make  payments  in  lieu  of  taxes.    3.   The   authority   shall   make  payments  in  lieu  of  taxes  to  municipalities and school districts equal to the taxes  and  assessments  which would have been received from year to year by such jurisdiction.    4.  The  authority shall also make payments in lieu of taxes for those  taxes which would  otherwise  be  imposed  upon  a  utility  corporation  pursuant to: (a) section one hundred eighty-six-a and former section one  hundred  eighty-six  of  the  tax law as such sections were in effect on  December thirty-first,  nineteen  hundred  ninety-nine;  (b)  any  taxes  imposed  by  a  city within the authority's service area pursuant to the  authorization granted by section twenty-b of the general city  law;  and  (c)  any  taxes imposed by a village within the authority's service area  pursuant to authorization granted by section 5-530 of the village law.    5. Notwithstanding the exemption in subdivision two of  this  section,  the  authority shall also be subject to the assessments imposed pursuant  to section eighteen-a of the public service law.    6. The securities issued by the authority, and  the  income  therefrom  shall,  at  all times, be free from taxation, except for estate and gift  taxes.    7. Nothing in this  article  shall  relieve  the  authority  from  its  obligations  to  register for sales tax purposes, collect state or local  sales and compensating use taxes imposed by or pursuant to the authority  of articles twenty-eight and twenty-nine of the tax law,  and  otherwise  comply with those articles on its sale of property or services.