It is no secret that many New York families are hurting because of the poor economic climate and increased cost of goods and services. That’s why now, more than ever, it is important we tackle problems that have been plaguing New York; chief among them are our skyrocketing property tax rates.
This sentiment was echoed last week by the state Commission on Property Tax Relief, which issued its final report highlighting the need for tax reform. The report not only provided valuable solutions that would reduce the property tax burden, it helped define the magnitude of the problem, being largely ignored by political partisans.
According to the report, New York’s property tax rate is 75 percent above the national average and eight of the top ten counties in the nation with the highest tax rates are located in upstate New York. This is not the type of honor we would prefer bestowed upon us and we should take measures to address that with solutions provided in the report.
Many of these proposals reflect measures I have already proposed during the past legislative session. I supported the ‘New York State Property Taxpayers’ Protection Act,’ which would have provided real property tax reform by relieving school districts of unfunded mandates, reducing county Medicaid costs, strengthening fiscal accountability of school tax dollars and promoting local government efficiency. The goal of the bill was the same as the commission’s report: to provide tax relief to property owners. Unfortunately, Speaker Silver and his conference blocked the legislation showing just another example of typical Assembly partisanship.
The citizens of New York State deserve better than the partisan bickering that has consumed Albany. Their elected officials should be passing money-saving legislation that forces our state government to live within its means. In the coming 2009 Legislative session, I look forward to working with the Governor and my colleagues in the Legislature to bring meaningful real property tax relief that New Yorkers will actually be able to see.