Ceretto Calls For The Passage Of Governor’s Property Tax Cap Bill At Tax Cap Rally In Albany

May 10, 2011

Assemblyman John Ceretto (R,I-Lewiston) called on the Assembly Majority Conference to pass the governor’s bill that would cap property tax increases at 2 percent during a “Tax Cap” rally held today at the state Capitol. The state Senate passed the governor’s tax cap bill earlier this year.

“Niagara County homeowners need relief from rising property taxes and at the very least deserve to have the governor’s property tax cap legislation brought to the Assembly floor for a vote,” said Ceretto. “A tax cap is the first step at easing the region’s high property tax bills and would put pressure on the legislature to freeze and eliminate unfunded mandates that drive up local costs and lead to higher property taxes.”

According to the latest statistics, New York’s local property tax levels are exceptionally high by national standards and have grown by more than double the inflation rate over the past decade. In fact, the Empire State’s property taxes are now about 80 percent above the national median, and rising. When property taxes were measured as a percentage of home value, 9 of the top 10 counties in the nation were in New York State.

In addition to capping property taxes, Assemblyman Ceretto also is calling on the legislature to freeze existing unfunded mandates and impose a moratorium on future mandates passed by the state in order to reduce cost for school districts and local governments and help reduce property taxes.

“Unfunded state mandates place huge burdens on local governments and school districts, and are the root cause of the state’s high property taxes,” said Ceretto. “By freezing and eliminating unfunded state mandates, the legislature will give local governments and schools districts more control over their budgets and will help make the state a more affordable place to own a home.”

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