Tax exemption and tax contract by the state

§ 1949-b. Tax exemption and tax contract by the state. 1. It is hereby determined that the creation of the authority and the carrying out of its corporate purposes is in all respects for the benefit of the people of the state of New York and is a public purpose. Accordingly, the authority shall be regarded as performing an essential governmental function in the exercise of the powers conferred upon it by this title, and the authority shall not be required to pay any fees, taxes, special ad valorem levies or assessments of any kind, whether state or local, including but not limited to fees, taxes, special ad valorem levies or assessments on real property, franchise taxes, sales taxes or other taxes, upon or with respect to any property owned by it or under its jurisdiction, control or supervision, or upon the uses thereof, or upon or with respect to its activities or operations in furtherance of the powers conferred upon it by the title, or upon or with respect to any fares, tolls, rentals, rates, charges, fees, revenues or other income received by the authority. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, the authority shall be required to pay water and pure water fees or charges as may be negotiated by any public corporation. The construction, use, occupation or possession of any property owned by the authority or the county, including improvements thereon, by any person or public corporation under a lease, lease and sublease or any other agreement shall not operate to abrogate or limit the foregoing exemption, notwithstanding that the lessee, user, occupant or person in possession shall claim ownership for federal income tax purposes.

2. Any bonds issued pursuant to this title together with the income therefrom shall at all times be exempt from taxation.

3. The state hereby convenants with the purchasers and with all subsequent holders and transferees of bonds issued by the authority pursuant to this title, in consideration of the acceptance of and payment for the bonds, that the bonds of the authority issued pursuant to this title and the income therefrom and all revenues, monies, and other property pledged to pay or to secure the payment of such bonds shall at all times be free from taxation.