216-A:3-a Payments by State. –
Whenever the state acquires any real property in a town or city for public recreational or park purposes the state shall annually pay to the town or city where such property is situate a sum equal to the taxes which would have been assessed against such property had such property remained taxable, basing such payments upon the assessed value of the property for the year prior to the year of acquisition at the current local rate of taxation applicable for the year in which payment is made, until and including the year the property is opened to the public for recreational or park use. The year following the opening of the property for recreational or park use and for the second, third, fourth and fifth years following such opening the payments shall be based on 80, 60, 40 and 20 percent respectively of the assessed value of the property for the year prior to the year of acquisition at the current local rate of taxation applicable for the year in which payment is made and thereafter such payments shall cease. If less than all the real property included in a single assessment is acquired by the state the commissioner of revenue administration shall determine the apportionment of the assessment between the state and the former owner. At the time of computing the rate percent of taxation for the town or city where said real property is situate, the commissioner of revenue administration shall certify to the state treasurer the amount of the payment to be made to each town and city in each year and the treasurer shall make such payment on or before December 1. The director of the division of parks and recreation shall notify the commissioner of revenue administration of the date when any real property acquired for recreational or park use is opened to the public.