McDonough: Albany Finally Listens To Taxpayers

Legislative Statement by Assemblyman David McDonough (R,C,I-Merrick)

“I strongly support a property tax cap and have been leading the fight for one since I took office. New York taxpayers suffer from the highest property taxes in the nation. High taxes are destroying jobs, killing New York's economic recovery, and forcing thousands of homeowners to leave our state. With today’s passage of the property tax cap, Albany is finally listening to taxpayers and appears serious about putting New York on a road to economic prosperity.

“I have consistently supported the New York State Property Taxpayers Protection Act, Assembly bill A3897-B, and, most recently, the Taxpayer Protection and Mandate Relief Act, Assembly bill A8447. The Taxpayer Protection and Mandate Relief Act would bring real relief from wasteful mandated programs like Medicaid, along with rising health care costs, payroll, and pension obligations. It’s a plan that would work for our schools, localities, and taxpayers. Albany’s delay in addressing unfunded mandates continues to hurt us at the local level, and represents another missed opportunity.

“Today’s property tax cap is an important first step, but mandate relief is imperative to putting New York’s economy back on the right track and creating jobs. Albany cannot wait another day to pass this critical reform; it must be done so that we can complete the people’s work.”