N.Y. Real Property Tax Law § 489-b: Definitions

§ 489-b. Definitions. When used in this title, unless otherwise

expressly stated:

1. "Assessing unit" means a city, town or village.

2. "Railroad company" means a corporation, joint stock company,

association, partnership, individual or other person operating a

railroad system wholly within the state of New York as a common carrier

by rail, including but not limited to a street, surface, underground or

elevated railroad, whether as owner, lessee, mortgagee, trustee,

receiver or assignee of railroad real property.

3. "Railroad real property" means the land, real estate and real

property (as defined in subdivision twelve of section one hundred two of

this chapter) of a railroad company, which is used by such railroad

company for transportation purposes and which is subject to real

property taxation except as provided in this title, and includes (a)

such property leased to such railroad company, (b) such property used

for transportation purposes by such railroad company under a trackage

right or other operating agreement, title to which is in other than a

railroad company, as defined in subdivision two of this section and

subdivision two of section four hundred eighty-nine-bb of this chapter,

(c) such property used or occupied by such railroad company, title to

which is in the state or in any municipal corporation thereof under any

of the grade crossing elimination acts, and (d) such tangible property

of such railroad company situated in, upon, under or above any street,

highway, public place or public waters; but does not include the value

of any franchise, right or permission to construct, maintain or operate,

in, under, above, on or through, streets, highways or public places.

4. "Subsidized railraod real property" means any railroad real

property for which a rail service continuation subsidy is paid by the

United States or the state of New York.

5. "Tax" or "taxation" means an ad valorem charge or special ad

valorem levy imposed upon real property by or on behalf of a county,

city, town, village, school district or special district.