Lawmakers raise concerns about Cuomo tax relief
ALBANY— A key state lawmaker said Monday that he feared implementation of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposed property tax freeze would be “a nightmare.”
State Senate Finance Committee Chairman John DeFrancisco raised the concern to the state’s tax commissioner during a budget hearing focused on the governor’s plan for more than $2 billion annually in tax relief. DeFrancisco and other lawmakers peppered Tax Commissioner Thomas Mattox with pointed questions about the broad-based plan.
Cuomo’s budget proposes tax rebates to homeowners who live in jurisdictions that stay within a 2 percent property tax cap. DeFrancisco said the break, which would be distributed the form of a personal income tax credit, could confuse people. The Syracuse Republican said Mattox’s agency would have to audit millions of tax returns.