With the holiday season underway and a new year fast approaching, I’d like to take this opportunity to look back on the progress made over the past year while looking towards the challenges that lie ahead. The 2006 legislative session produced a number of significant strides in improving the quality of life for New Yorkers. However, as we prepare for a new legislative session, much more needs to be done to provide comprehensive long-term property tax relief, establish a long-term energy policy for our future, and foster job creation and economic growth for the Mohawk Valley and Central New York.
New Yorkers face soaring property taxes that leave a stifling burden on homeowners and seniors throughout the state. During the 2006 legislative session, the first steps toward property tax relief were taken with the establishment of the Real Property Tax Relief Rebate checks worth 30 percent of a homeowner’s STAR savings. Also implemented was a cost-of-living adjustment for seniors receiving Enhanced STAR savings. However, more needs to be done to relieve the ever increasing property tax burden.
In the new legislative session, I will continue to fight for comprehensive long-term property tax relief that is included in the Assembly minority’s “Saving Our Homes” plan. Under the plan, homeowner’s STAR benefits would be indexed and increased to reflect current home values, rather than 1997 values when STAR was established. Furthermore, senior citizens and farmers would see increased savings with the proposed establishment of Co-STAR, a property tax exemption that would further reduce county property tax bills.
While we were able to provide relief at the pump with the establishment of the gas tax cap, enactment of a long-term plan to foster use of alternative fuels throughout the state remains a challenge. In order to provide significant savings at the pump, availability of alternative fuels must be developed. One of my top priorities in the 2007 legislative session is to work to enact the Alternative Fuel Incentive Fund. The fund would invest $250 million in research, development, and use of alternative fuels. The fund would be paid for by half of the remaining sales tax revenue on gasoline and would provide tax credits, grants, investments, and incentives to build fueling stations and refineries for ethanol and other forms of alternative fuels.
Our future depends on fostering job creation and spurring economic development. Much of the state has seen a generation of workers leave New York to work in more affordable regions of the country. We must work towards relieving business from the burden of high taxes and mandates by enacting business tax cuts and establish workers compensation reform. Furthermore, I will work towards establishing a plan that will create new opportunities and growth for small businesses.
As we enter a new legislative session and a new era in state government, many challenges lie ahead. As we move forward, my commitment to achieving property tax relief, providing alternative fuel use, and creating a new and improved environment of job creation and economic development for our community remains strong. Your continued support and dedication to our collective quality of life will help assist me address these challenges.