Cahill Fights for Real Property Tax Reform

Tax caps not enough; state must work to lower costs

November 3, 2010

Albany – Assemblymember Kevin Cahill (D–Ulster, Dutchess) renewed his call for passage of the “21st Century Schools Act” (A.9510 - Cahill) on the heels of a report by the Tax Foundation that found New Yorkers are paying the highest property taxes in the nation. The report ranked Dutchess and Ulster Counties 39th and 45th, respectively, when measuring property taxes as a percentage of median county income. The bill, which has broad bi-partisan sponsorship, is designed to curb school spending through shared services and consolidation.

“It is no secret that our communities are being crushed by property taxes,” said Assemblymember Cahill. “The state must take aggressive action to get a handle on this crisis. A property tax cap by itself will not solve the problem. We need to give our schools the tools they need to actually start cutting costs without sacrificing the quality of our children’s’ education.”

The 21st Century Schools Act would maximize the use of BOCES and increase cooperative participation, using expanded regional approaches to pay for bigger ticket items like transportation and special education. It also calls for a complete reexamination of school district lines. The legislation would create an implementation board modeled after the successful Commission on Health Care Facilities, better known as the Berger Commission. The panel would assure the goals of modernization, educational excellence, efficiency and cost reduction.

“School districts across the state have enacted budgets riddled with layoffs and program cuts while simultaneously increasing property taxes, leaving no question that our current system is unsustainable. My legislation addresses runaway costs by streamlining and ending duplication,” said Assemblymember Cahill. “We must take better advantage of economies of scale and improve the delivery of services to our kids and teachers. Consolidation and smart purchasing will save hundreds of millions of dollars while preserving the quality and local character of our schools.”

Assemblymember Cahill, a long-time leader on school funding reform, reiterated his call for a state takeover of education funding and the enactment of a circuit breaker that would bring immediate property tax relief based on household income. The Equity in Education Act (A.6009 – Cahill) would require the state to assume the costs of a basic quality education while phasing out school property taxes over a period of five years. The Middle Class Circuit Breaker Tax Credit (A.8702 – Englebright, Cahill) would provide benefits based on household income and the percentage paid for real property taxes.

“People are devastated by chaotic, unbearable property taxes and where we tax reformers are daily struggling for justice. Tax reformers are counting every vote for the Omnibus circuit breaker bill which Kevin Cahill has co-sponsored-among other excellent property tax reform bills he's advancing which will completely change the tax landscape,” said Gioia Shebar, Coordinator for the Tax Nightmare Web site. “Kevin probably knows more about the property tax than anyone in the Assembly. He knows the cap is not reform; he knows the state must take over much of the expense for school funding; he knows how to pay for reform.”

“Instead of gimmicks like tax caps that don’t do a thing to lower taxes, we need to bring real reform to our education funding system,” said Assemblymember Cahill. “A circuit breaker will give families the relief they need now while we work towards eliminating the outdated and inequitable property tax model that has been shortchanging our children and overburdening our communities for far too long.”

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