SULLIVAN FOR COMMON COUNCIL WARD 14
For Immediate Release: 2 Sept 09
Contact: JPS 438 5230


ALBANY SCHOOL TAX BILLS ARE IN THE MAIL
TIME FOR CHANGE SAYS COUNCIL CANDIDATE

Joseph P Sullivan, Democratic candidate for Common
Council, Ward 14 in the September 15 primary, said
today, Albany City School Property Tax bills are in the
mail, and it is time for change.

Sullivan proposes consolidating city schools with city
government, creating one property tax roll to fund both
returning to a K-8 neighborhood school system and making
the Mayor and Common Council responsible and
accountable for the performance of city schools.

These changes will result in property tax relief for
homeowners and businesses, and improve education in the
city schools, said Sullivan.

Sullivan has pledged that, if elected, he will sponsor and
push the required Home Rule Request to the State Legislature
to so amend relevant sections of state law.

Annual increases in school property taxes and disorder in
city schools are reasons fueling the flight of homeowners
in particular, those with children, to the suburbs. This flight
in turn, erodes the city property tax base.

The majority of school attendees come from households
that pay little or no school property taxes. Less than 1/3 of
housing units in the city are owner- occupied, with the majority
being senior citizens on fixed incomes. This results in a severe
property tax burden for those homeowners.

This situation must be addressed now because the state
budget crisis may force cuts in state educational aid to school
districts, in turn, creating an unsustainable property tax burden
on Albany homeowners, causing more to flee the city, said Sullivan.

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