Governor Cuomo Announces Support from More Than 250 Local Elected Officials in Push to Cut Property Taxes
Outlines Proposal to Cut Property Taxes and Deliver Relief to Homeowners in Onondaga County
“New York State cannot afford to be the tax capital of the nation any longer – our homeowners need real property tax relief,” Governor Cuomo said. “Building on the success of the property tax cap, this year’s budget includes more than $1 billion in property tax relief for New York’s homeowners. It also addresses the root cause of property tax growth by encouraging local governments to share services and reduce their financial impact on the taxpayer. Over the past few weeks we have heard from hundreds of local officials all across the State who recognize the need for property tax reform and have made their voices heard in support of this agenda. I urge the State legislature to stand with them by cutting property taxes this year, so that we can take the next step toward a more affordable and more prosperous New York.”
The Governor was joined at today’s event by Chris Haywood, an 11-year resident of Onondaga County.
Chris Haywood said, “As an 11-year resident of Onondaga County and a resident of Oneida County before that, I know firsthand how property taxes are impacting the budgets of working- and middle-class families in Upstate New York. This out-of-control tax burden cuts into how much my wife and I are able to spend on basic essentials like groceries, school supplies, and college funds for our four children. That is why I’m supporting the Governor’s proposal to cut property taxes. It will mean hundreds of dollars in savings to families like mine, and is something that the legislature needs to pass this year.”
Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney said, "We share the Governor's concern that New York's high property taxes are hindering growth in our community. We support Governor Cuomo's focus on bringing real property tax relief by encouraging government modernization."
Dewitt Town Supervisor Ed Michalenko said, “High property taxes are one of the leading reasons that people are being forced to leave the region and the state, and we must do something about them this year. The Governor’s plan to cut property taxes would help families in Central New York save hundreds of dollars on their tax bills, and it is something I fully support. Homeowners in Central New York should not be burdened by these excessively high tax rates any longer, and I stand with the Governor in calling on the State legislature to pass property tax reform this year.”
Onondaga County Legislator Danny Liedka said, “Like many other regions of the State, high property taxes in Onondaga County have stifled businesses and hurt our families, ultimately encouraging people to leave the State for lower-tax alternatives. We can’t allow this to continue, and that’s why I support the Governor’s plan to cut property taxes while incentivizing local governments to cut costs. His approach encourages local governments to reduce their impact on the taxpayer by reforming and shrinking the bureaucracy, and it will deliver badly needed tax relief to our property owners. The legislature must pass this proposal this year so we can continue rebuilding the economy and making Upstate New York affordable again.”
The Governor’s plan would freeze property taxes for two years in communities where the local government also takes steps to consolidate and share services, and would provide relief based on an individual homeowner’s ability to pay. During year two of the Governor’s freeze proposal, approximately 207,000 Central New York homeowners could benefit, with total savings of as much as $44 million and an average benefit of $215. Under the circuit breaker proposal, approximately 129,000 households will qualify for an average real property personal income tax credit of $375, totaling $48 million in savings to Central New York residents.
In addition to the individuals who spoke at today’s event in favor of the Governor’s push for property tax relief, the following local leaders have joined the ranks of elected officials from around the State in calling for property tax cuts this year:
FIRST NAME |
LAST NAME |
TITLE |
MUNICIPALITY |
Keith |
Ahlstrom |
Minority Leader |
Chautauqua County Legislature |
Edwin |
Alvarez |
Town Council Member |
Town of Southeast |
Robert |
Anderson |
Councilmember |
City of Niagara Falls |
Sarah |
Anker |
Legislator |
Suffolk County Legislature |
Tony |
Arquiett |
Legislator |
St. Lawrence County Legislature |
Paul |
Aubertine |
Councilman |
Town of Cape Vincent |
Paul |
Backus |
Board Member |
Town of Canton |
Barry |
Baker |
Board Member |
Town of Arietta |
Dave |
Baker |
Supervisor |
Ontario County Board of Supervisors |
Ted |
Banta |
Supervisor |
Town of Cairo |
Lorie |
Barnum |
Supervisor |
Town of Irondequoit |
Thomas |
Barraga |
Legislator |
Suffolk County Legislature |
Phil |
Barrett |
Supervisor |
Town of Clifton Park |
Tom |
Basile |
Councilmember |
Town of Stony Point |
Art |
Bassin |
Supervisor |
Town of Ancram |
Rollin |
Beattie |
Board Member |
Town of Potsdam |
Adam |
Bello |
Supervisor |
Town of Irondequoit |
Steve |
Bellone |
County Executive |
Suffolk County |
Brad |
Bender |
Councilman |
Town of Southampton |
Ron |
Benedetti |
Mayor |
Village of Solvay |
Jeffrey |
Berkman |
Minority Leader |
Oranty County Legislature |
Khalid |
Bey |
Councilor |
City of Syracuse |
Lori |
Blackburn |
Councilor |
Town of Granby |
Vincent |
Bono |
Chairman |
Herkimer County Legislature |
Catherine |
Borgia |
Majority Leader |
Westchester County Legislature |
George |
Borrello |
Chairman, Economic Development |
Chautauqua County Legislature |
Michael |
Bowe |
Councilor |
City of Oneida |
Noam |
Bramson |
Mayor |
City of New Rochelle |
Sallie |
Brothers |
Former Chairwoman |
St. Lawrence County Legislature |
Jim |
Bunstone |
Legislator |
St. Lawrence County Legislature |
Chris |
Burdick |
Supervisor |
Town of Bedford |
David |
Button |
Supervisor |
Town of Canton |
Rob |
Calarco |
Majority Leader |
Suffolk County Legislator |
Isidro |
Cancel |
Councilmember |
Town of Haverstraw |
Randy |
Casale |
Mayor |
City of Beacon |
Frank |
Castiglia |
Legislator |
Oswego County Legislature |
Frank |
Catalina |
Mayor |
City of Peekskill |
Tom |
Catillaz |
Trustee |
Village of Saranac Lake |
Jason |
Chapin |
Councilman |
Town of New Castle |
Joseph |
Chiarenza Jr. |
Councilor |
Town of DeWitt |
Carl |
Chipman |
Supervisor |
Town of Rochester |
Bonnie |
Christian |
Mayor |
Village of South Nyack |
Brett |
Christy |
Councilman |
Town of Pomfret |
J. Michael |
Cindrich |
Mayor |
Village of Mount Kisco |
Jason |
Clark |
Legislator |
St. Lawrence County Legislature |
Drew |
Claxton |
Councilmember |
City of Peekskill |
Greg |
Cole |
School Board Memeber |
Silver Creek |
Thomas |
Constantine |
Legislator |
Schenectady County Legislature |
Billy |
Coughlin |
Former County Legislator |
Chautauqua County |
John |
Cregg |
Trustee |
Village of Solvay |
Jose |
Cruz |
Board Member |
Rochester City School Board |
Robert |
Cullen |
Council Member |
Town of Southeast |
Ed |
Day |
County Executive |
Rockland County |
Ed |
DeJaneiro |
Legislator |
Genesee County Legislature |
Dave |
Denenberg |
Legislator |
Nassau County Legislature |
Carla |
DeShaw |
Mayor |
Village of Canastota |
Joe |
Destefano |
Mayor |
City of Middletown |
Jack |
Diamond |
Mayor |
City of Glens Falls |
Roy |
Diamond |
Legislator |
Montgomery County Legislature |
Curlie |
Dillard |
Legislator |
Orange County Legislature |
AJ |
Dolce |
Mayor |
City of Dunkirk |
Rick |
Donah |
Trustee |
Village of Tupper Lake |
Rick |
Donah |
Trustee |
Village of Tupper Lake |
Tom |
Donnelly |
Councilman |
Town of Babylon |
Jack |
Dooling |
Town Board Member |
Town of DeWitt |
John |
Dougherty |
Legislator |
Onondaga County Legislature |
Randy |
Douglas |
Chairman |
Essex County Board of Supervisors |
John |
Duchessi |
Legislator |
Montgomery County Legislature |
Daniel |
Dwyer |
Mayor |
City of Rensselaer |
Sam |
Dyer |
Chairman |
Clinton County Legislature |
Paul |
Dyster |
Mayor |
City of Niagara Falls |
Cora |
Edwards |
Legislator |
Sullivan County Legislature |
Tracey |
Edwards |
Councilwoman |
Town of Huntington |
Charlie |
Evangelista |
Supervisor |
City of Geneva |
Malik |
Evans |
Board Member |
Rochester City School Board |
Dan |
Farfaglia |
Legislator |
Oswego County Legislature |
Paul |
Feiner |
Supervisor |
Town of Greenburgh |
Bill |
Ferebee |
Vice Chairman/ Town Supervisor |
Essex County Board of Supervisors/ Town of Keene |
Tony |
Fiala |
Legislator |
Broome County Legislature |
Goeff |
Finn |
Supervisor |
Town of Stony Point |
Mark |
Fleming |
Legislator |
Rensselear County Legislature |
Maureen |
Fleming |
Supervisor |
Town of Kent |
Bridget |
Fleming |
Councilwoman |
Town of Southampton |
Richard |
Fontana |
Council Member |
Buffalo Common Council |
Doug |
Foster |
Trustee |
Village of Nyack |
Jamie |
Frank |
Town Board Member |
Town of DeWitt |
Carl |
Fulgenzi |
Town Council Member |
Town of Mount Pleasant |
Joseph |
Fusco |
Mayor |
City of Rome |
Shayne |
Gallo |
Mayor |
City of Kingston |
Vincent |
Gamboli |
Councilmember |
Town of Haverstraw |
Larry |
Gardiner |
Legislator |
Greene County Legislature |
Phil |
Giardino |
Board Member |
Town of Fine |
Norma |
Gonslaves |
Presiding Officer |
Nassau County Legislature |
Adelino |
Gonzalez |
Councilmember |
Town of Dunkirk |
Jacqueline |
Gordon |
Councilwoman |
Town of Babylon |
John |
Gould, Sr |
Councilmember |
Town of Haverstraw |
Cindy |
Gowiski |
Supervisor |
Town of Birdsall |
Kristin |
Grandenetti |
Councilwoman |
Niagara County Legislature |
DuWayne |
Gregory |
Presiding Officer |
Suffolk County Legislature |
Peter |
Grimm |
Minority Leader |
Rensselear County Legislature |
Alex |
Gromack |
Supervisor |
Town of Clarkstown |
Matt |
Haag |
Councilmember |
Rochester City Council |
Kara |
Hahn |
Legislator |
Suffolk County Legislature |
Wayne |
Hall |
Mayor |
Village Hempstead |
Don |
Hammond |
Trustee |
Village of Nyack |
Peter |
Harckham |
Legislator |
Westchester County Legislature |
Karl |
Hax |
Mayor |
Village of Pulaski |
Bob |
Hayssen |
Chair |
Seneca County Board of Supervisors |
Mike |
Hein |
County Executive |
Ulster County |
Hugh |
Hill |
Trustee |
Village of Malone |
Shawn |
Hogan |
Mayor |
City of Hornell |
Elizabeth |
Hudak |
Council Member |
Town of Southeast |
William "Billy" |
Hughes |
Supervisor- Hudson- 4th Ward |
Columbia County Board of Supervisors |
Gary |
Hughes |
Majority Leader |
Schenectady County Legislature |
Anthony |
Jasenski |
Chairman |
Schenectady County Legislature |
Jude |
Jean-Francois |
Alderman |
City of Middletown |
Ken |
Jenkins |
Legislator |
Westchester County Board of Legislators |
Barbara |
Jeter-Jackson |
Minority Leader |
Dutchess County Legislature |
Todd |
Johnson |
Supervisor |
Town of Hanover |
Paul |
Johnson |
Alderman |
City of Middletown |
Cindy |
Kaleh |
Legislator |
Monroe County Legislature |
Stephen |
Keefe |
Mayor |
Village of Fredonia |
Tim |
Kelly |
Board Member |
Town of Pamelia |
Warren |
Kelly |
Trustee |
Village of Silver Creek |
Judy |
Kennedy |
Mayor |
City of Newburgh |
Pat |
Kilmartin |
Legislator |
Onondaga County Legislature |
Margaret "Peggy" |
King |
President |
City of Schenectady City Council |
Stephanie |
Kiyak |
Councilwoman |
City of Dunkirk |
Dave |
Knapp |
Legislator |
Onondaga County Legislature |
Lynn |
Kopka |
City Council Member-At Large |
Troy City Council |
Al |
Krupski |
Legislator |
Suffolk County Legislator |
Michael |
Kunzwiler |
Minority Leader |
Oswego County Legislature |
Susan |
Labuhn |
Legislator |
Cattaraugus County Legislature |
Tom |
Latimer |
Supervisor |
Town of Pierrepont |
Tim |
Lattimore |
Legislator |
Cayuga County Legislature |
LeeAnn |
Lazarony |
Mayor |
Town of Cassadaga |
Larry |
Legault |
Supervisor |
Town of Louisville |
Harry |
Lennon |
Legislator |
Greene County Legislature |
Kevin |
Lennon |
Legislator |
Greene County Legislature |
Timothy |
Levison |
Trustee |
Village of Norwood |
Danny |
Liedka |
Legislator |
Onondaga County Legislature |
William |
Lindsay |
Legislator |
Suffolk County Legislature |
Paula |
Mahan |
Supervisor |
Town of Colonie |
Joanie |
Mahoney |
County Executive |
Onondaga County |
Joseph |
Maiurano |
Mayor |
City of Norwich |
Patricia |
Manchester |
Supervisor |
Town of Fort Covington |
Howard |
Maneely |
Supervisor |
Town of Malone |
Edward |
Mangano |
County Executive |
Nassau County |
Kerry |
Mannion |
Town Board Member |
Town of DeWitt |
Marty |
Mannix |
Board Member |
Town of Plattsburgh |
Nader |
Maroun |
Councilor |
City of Syracuse |
Jack |
Marren |
Chair |
Ontario County Board of Supervisors |
Carole |
Marsh |
Supervisor |
Town of Pompey |
Peter |
Martin |
Supervisor, Saratoga Springs |
Saratoga County Board of Supervisors |
Tony |
Martinez |
Deputy Supervisor |
Town of Babylon |
Joan |
Maybury |
Supervisor |
Town of Mount Pleasant |
Colleen |
McCabe |
Legislator |
Broome County Legislature |
Gary |
McCarthy |
Mayor |
City of Schenectady |
Dan |
McCoy |
County Executive |
Albany County |
Ronald |
Mcdougall |
Mayor |
Village of Gouverneur |
James |
McFaddin |
Mayor |
Village of Norwood |
J. Ryan |
McMahon |
Chairman |
Onondaga County Legislature |
Wm Keith |
McNall |
Legislator |
Niagara County Legislature |
John |
Merwin |
Supervisor |
Town of Northeast |
Mike |
Michalski |
Councilman |
City of Dunkirk |
Ed |
Michelanko |
Supervisor |
Town of DeWitt |
Kevin |
Millar |
Mayor |
Village of Owego |
Marjorie |
Miller |
Supervisor |
Town of Middletown |
Marc |
Molinaro |
County Executive |
Dutchess County |
John |
Mootooveren |
CouncilMember |
City of Schenectady City Council |
Gerald |
Morrow |
Town Supervisor |
Town of Chesterfield |
Jake |
Mulcahey |
County Legislator |
Oswego County Legislature |
Steve |
Neuhaus |
County Executive |
Orange County |
Ernie |
Odierna |
Deputy Supervisor and Councilmember |
Town of Mamaroneck |
Matthew |
Ossenfort |
County Executive |
Montgomery County |
Janet |
Otto-Cassada |
Mayor |
Village ofWaddington |
Carla |
Palumbo |
Councilmember |
Rochester City Council |
Catherine |
Parker |
Legislator |
Westchester County Legislature |
Don |
Peck |
Legislator |
St. Lawrence County |
Leesa |
Perazzo |
City Council Member |
City of Schenectady |
Leonard |
Perfetti |
Councilman |
Town of Union |
Charles |
Pernice |
Supervisor |
Town of Norfolk |
Victoria |
Perotti |
Supervisor |
Town of Amenia |
Frank |
Petrone |
Supervisor |
Town of Huntington |
Howard |
Phillips |
Supervisor |
Town of Haverstraw |
Anthony |
Picente |
County Executive |
County of Oneida |
Carmen |
Pineyro |
Supervisor |
Village of Freeport |
Michael |
Plochocki |
Legislator |
Onondaga County Legislature |
Ellen |
Polimeni |
Mayor |
City of Canadaigua |
Randy |
Preston |
Supervisor |
Town of Wilmington |
Anthony |
Purol |
Trustee |
Village of Silver Creek |
Jonathan |
Putney |
Chairman |
St. Lawrence County Legislature |
Tom |
Quackenbush |
Chairman |
Montgomery County Legislature |
Clyde |
Rabideau |
Mayor |
Village of Saranac Lake |
Cathy |
Race |
Mayor |
Village of Hermon |
Kathy |
Rapp |
Legislator |
Onondaga County Legislature |
Daniel |
Reynolds |
County Legislator |
Broome County Legislature |
Barbara |
Rice |
Legislator, Trustee |
Franklin County, Village of Saranac Lake |
Bill J. |
Rivera |
Councilman |
City of Dunkirk |
Tom |
Roach |
Mayor |
City of White Plains |
Van |
Robinson |
Common Council President |
City of Syracuse |
J. Miguel |
Rodrigues |
City Council President |
Town of Middletown |
Rod |
Rogers |
School Board Memeber |
Forestville CSD |
Lou |
Rosamilia |
Mayor |
City of Troy |
H Bruce |
Russell |
Supervisor |
Town of Bellmont |
Chris |
Ryan |
Legislator |
Onondaga County Legislature |
Marie |
Schadt |
Legislator |
Oswego County Legislature |
Laura |
Schaefer |
Legislator |
Nassau County Leg. |
Rich |
Schaffer |
Supervisor |
Town of Babylon |
Jay |
Schneiderman |
Deputy Presiding Officer |
Suffolk County Legislator |
Thomas |
Scozzafava |
Town Supervisor |
Town of Moriah |
Vincent |
Seeley |
Legislator |
Greene County Legislature |
Dave |
Seeley |
Town Board Member |
Town of Irondequoit |
Nancy |
Seligson |
Supervisor |
Town of Mamaroneck |
Irena |
Skrobach |
Councilwoman |
Town of Irondequoit |
Jim |
Smith |
Board Member |
Town of Canton |
A. Max |
Smith |
Mayor |
City of Oneida |
Sonde |
Somers |
Alderwoman |
City of Middletown |
Hector |
Soto |
Councilman |
Town of Haverstraw |
Al |
Spain |
Supervisor |
Town of East Greenbush |
Mike |
Spano |
Mayor |
City of Yonkers |
William |
Spencer |
Legislator |
Suffolk County Legislature |
Reginald |
Spinello |
Mayor |
City Glen Cove |
Owen |
Steed |
Legislator |
Niagara County Legislature |
Steven |
Stern |
Legislator |
Suffolk County Legislature |
Jennifer |
Stevenson |
Councilmember |
City of Ogdensburg |
Andy |
Stewart |
Supervisor |
Town of Orangetown |
Erin |
Sullivan Teta |
City Council Member |
City of Troy |
Stacey |
Szukala |
Councilmember |
City of Dunkirk |
Todd |
Tancredi |
Supervisor |
Town of Poughkeepsie |
Judy |
Tassone |
Legislator |
Onondaga County Legislature |
Anna |
Throne-Holst |
Supervisor |
Town of Southampton |
Brian |
Tobin |
Mayor |
City of Cortland |
Andy |
Touma |
Councilman |
Niagara Falls City Council |
Amy |
Tressider |
County Legislator |
Oswego County Legislature |
Paul |
VanCott |
Trustee |
Village of Saranac Lake |
Dennis |
Virtuoso |
Legislator |
Niagara County Legislature |
Rosemarie |
Walker |
Legislator |
Nassau County Legislature |
Charles |
Walker |
Chairman |
Niagara Falls City Council |
Jean |
Walsh |
Supervisor |
Town of Rosendale |
Sean |
Walter |
Supervisor |
Town of Riverhead |
Michael |
Warren |
Supervisor |
Town of Marbletown |
Van |
White |
President |
Rochester City School Board |
Jennifer |
White |
Mayor |
Village of Nyack |
Justin |
Wilcox |
Legislator |
Monroe County Legislature |
Ed |
Williamson |
Supervisor |
Town of Granby |
Alden |
Wolfe |
Chairman |
Rockland County Legislature |
Mark |
Woods |
Treasurer |
Town of Dunkirk |
JoAnn |
Yepsen |
Mayor |
City of Saratoga Springs |
Ted |
Young |
Mayor |
Village of Waterloo |
Jason |
Zona |
Legislator |
Niagara County Legislature |
Property Tax Freeze
The property tax freeze is a two year proposal that is designed to incentivize local governments to share services and reduce their financial burden on the taxpayer. New Yorkers will be eligible for property tax relief in the first year of the freeze if their local governments stay within the property tax cap. During the second year, the freeze will continue to provide relief to New Yorkers if their local governments remain within the property tax cap and also pursue concrete steps to consolidate, share services, and ultimately reduce costs. When fully implemented, the freeze would result in tax relief of up to $1 billion from local governments and school districts, with an average benefit of $354 for as many as 2.8 million taxpayers.
Circuit Breaker Based on Ability to Pay
Currently, as many as two million low- and middle-income New Yorkers pay an effective real property tax rate relative to income that exceeds their income tax rate. The Governor’s circuit breaker proposal would create a progressively distributed tax credit in order to provide relief based on an individual homeowner’s ability to pay. When fully implemented, the circuit breaker would provide approximately two million New Yorkers with an average benefit of $500.
“No Excuses”
Just two weeks ago, the Governor launched the “No Excuses” push to help pass his proposed property tax cuts. The initiative includes a website (http://cutpropertytaxes.ny.gov/), testimonial from elected officials, advocacy groups, and homeowners who are burdened by high tax rates. The Governor is also urging New Yorkers to contact their legislators to make their voices heard. Click here to watch a video marking the start of the “No Excuses” initiative (for TV stations, a high-definition version can be downloaded here).