HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 878        FILED ON: 1/15/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2559

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Joseph D. McKenna and Susannah M. Whipps

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act creating a commission to study the PILOT formula and disbursement.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 878        FILED ON: 1/15/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2559

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

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An Act creating a commission to study the PILOT formula and disbursement.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Section 1. There shall be a commission to study the valuation and distribution of Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) to cities and towns for State Owned Land (SOL). The commission shall (i) examine the current methods used to determine valuations for the parcels owned by the state to be reimbursed, (ii) Examine the formula used to distribute said reimbursements to municipalities, (iii) evaluate the effectiveness and equity of said formula, and (iv) make recommendations to establish a formula that considers the current needs of municipalities.

Section 2. The commission shall review all aspects of PILOT reimbursement financing, including (i) Changes in acreage of SOL in a given community year to year as it relates to PILOT funding year to year; (ii) the extent to which the formula reflects municipalities’ needs and the proportional distribution PILOT; (iii) any equity disparities that exist among municipalities, related to PILOT reimbursement; and (iv) any alternative formulas that may create a more equitable distribution of PILOT reimbursements.

Section 3. The commission shall consist of the following members: (1) the Secretary of the Executive Office for Administration and Finance, or a designee; (2) the Secretary of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, or a designee; (3) the Secretary of the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, or a designee; (4) the Commissioner of the Department of Revenue or a designee; (5) the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Revenue; (6) the House Chair of the Joint Committee on Revenue; (7) the Chair of the Senate Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures, and State Assets; (8) the Chair of the House Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures, and State Assets; (9) the House Chair of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture; (10) the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture; (11) 1 member appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; (12) 1 member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; and (13) 3 persons appointed by the Governor, as follows: (i) 1 representative from the Massachusetts Municipal Association;(iii) 1 representative from the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation; and (iv) 1 representative from the Public Policy Center at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

Section 4. The commission shall file a report of its findings and recommendations, including any new or revised Payment in Lieu of Taxes Reimbursement formulas, with the Clerks of the Senate and House of Representatives and the Chairs of the Senate and House Committees on Ways and Means no later than January 1, 2019.