Broome County Legislator Julie Lewis (Towns of Vestal, Binghamton and Conklin) announced this morning that her proposal to offer for sale the gas and mineral rights to owners of previously sold properties at tax auctions has cleared two Legislative Committees.

Under a resolution passed back in 2010, Broome County retained the mineral rights on all properties five acres and over sold at tax auctions.

"County government shouldn't be retaining mineral rights on properties that they sold at tax auctions to private individuals", said Ms. Lewis. "Allowing the rights to be sold to the current owners of the properties not only will result in income to the County, but it'll also return the rights where they belong, to private individuals." 

With this proposal, the County Director of Real Property Tax Service will notify current property owners within 30 days of the resolution adoption that they can purchase the mineral rights. Owners will then have 30 days to indicate their intention to purchase the rights. Once they indicate the intention to purchase the mineral rights, a property owner will have 30 days to provide payment for the mineral rights.

The resolution will now be considered by the entire Legislature at its July 21st meeting.