GOVERNORS PLAN NOT PROPERTY TAX RELIEF

 

SULLIVAN for CONGRESS  21st District, New York

 

17 June 2008

Contact JPS 438 5230

 

 

     SULLIVAN SAYS GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL

     IS NOT PROPERTY TAX RELIEF

 

Joseph P Sullivan, of Albany, Democratic candidate for Congress, 21st District, said today, that

Governor Paterson's  proposal is not property tax relief.

 

The proposal, prepared by the commission appointed by former Governor Spitzer, provides for a 4 percent "cap" on annual school property tax increases. If a school district increases taxes 1 percent, it can roll over the 3 percent credit to the next year, thus raising school property taxes 7 percent in that year.

 

This is not property tax relief, said Sullivan. The state is simply , in effect, mandating tax increases that can be rolled over to succeeding years. This acts like compound interest, because the tax base continues to grow each year. The Governor's proposal takes away school budget increase determinations from district voters, in effect, taking away local fiscal checks and balances.

 

The state could provide real property tax relief for homeowners and businesses, by passing legislation that dissolves local school districts and boards, creating one property tax roll and vesting control and accountability for school performance and budgets with local city and town

elected officials., Sullivan said.

 

 

Local voters should retain the right to vote down a school budget proposal and the state law must be amended to provide that all votes are final and binding...no reruns! The last year's budget simply carry's over.

 

Sullivan said the recent Siena College poll finding that 76 percent of those polled want school property tax relief .. but,  does not mean that the respondents want the plan proposed by the Governor.

 

Voters want school property tax relief, but let the state get it right before passing more legislation that only aggravates the problem, said Sullivan.

 

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