§ 3615. Tax exemption and tax contract by the state. 1. It is hereby
determined that the creation of the corporation 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
corporation shall be regarded as performing an essential governmental
function in the exercise of the powers conferred upon it by this title,
and the corporation shall not be required to pay any fees, taxes,
special ad valorem levies or assessments of any kind, except as provided
pursuant to the public health law, 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
corporation. Provided, however, that any real property owned or acquired
by the corporation outside of the towns shall be exempt from real
property taxes, ad valorem levies or special assessments only pursuant
to and to the extent provided by an agreement with the governing body of
the municipality in which such real property is located. Provided,
further, subsidiaries of the corporation are not included within the
foregoing exemption.

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 covenants with the purchasers and with all
subsequent holders and transferees of bonds issued by the corporation
pursuant to this title, in consideration of the acceptance of and
payment for the bonds, that the bonds of the corporation 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.

4. The corporation may pay, or may enter into agreements with the
towns or any municipality to pay, a sum or sums annually or otherwise or
to provide other considerations with respect to real property owned by
the corporation located within the towns or such municipality.