17-272. Voluntary contributions in lieu of property taxes

A. If the commission purchases real property and if the property was subject to taxation, or was exempt from taxation under section 42-11114 or 42-11115, at the time of purchase, notwithstanding any other law, the commission may make voluntary contributions of money to the state, the county, the municipality, school districts, a community college district and any other special taxing district organized under title 48 in which the property is located. On or before April 1 of each year in which the commission elects to make voluntary contributions under this section, the commission shall notify the county assessor of the county in which the property is located of its election to make a voluntary contribution pursuant to this section. Contributions under this section:

1. May be made from the game, nongame, fish and endangered species fund, the conservation development fund, the Arizona game and fish commission heritage fund or any other source of monies available to and budgeted by the commission, except that monies from the heritage fund may be used only with respect to property acquired pursuant to section 17-298.

2. Are subject to legislative appropriation if legislative appropriation is required for the particular source of monies.

B. The department shall consult with the assessor of the county in which the property is located and determine the assessed valuation of the property and the amount of the contribution under this section. Each year the contribution shall be computed assuming classification as class two property pursuant to section 42-12002 and shall be valued each year as agricultural land pursuant to section 42-13101. The assessed valuation used to compute the contribution shall not be increased from one tax year to the next tax year by more than two per cent.

C. The amount of the contribution shall be determined by applying the current aggregate tax rate to the determined valuation.

D. The county treasurer shall collect and the commission shall pay the amount of contribution under this section at the same time and in the same manner as ad valorem property taxes are collected and paid.

E. The county treasurer shall distribute the monies received under this section to the various taxing jurisdictions in which the property is located in the same manner as property taxes are distributed.

F. This section does not apply to, and the commission shall not make contributions with respect to, lands acquired for fish hatcheries, game farms, firing ranges, reservoir sites, administrative sites or rights-of-way to fishing waters.