Bay Ridge

State Senate moves to curb city’s ability to raise property taxes

March 25, 2015 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle
A bill to limit New York City’s ability to raise property taxes was recently passed by the State Senate. Eagle file photo by Paula Katinas
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A bi-partisan group of state senators successfully pushed for passage of a bill that would force New York City to cap property tax increases at two percent a year, a move that supporters said would help homeowners get a better handle on their household budgets.

Brooklyn senators Marty Golden (R-C-Bay Ridge-Southwest Brooklyn), Diane Savino (D-Coney Island-Bensonhurst-Staten Island) and Simcha Felder (D-Borough Park-Midwood) all signed on to the proposed legislation sponsored by state Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island). State Sen. Tony Avella (D-Queens) also voted for the bill.

The bill was approved by the State Senate on March 19.

Lanza’s bill seeks to establish limitations on real property tax levies in New York City by placing a cap on the growth of property taxes at two percent, or capping it at the level of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is less.

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Golden said he supported the bill because struggling homeowners need a break.

“On a regular basis, throughout my district and across the five boroughs, people speak to me about the increased cost of property taxes and the effect on their personal family budget. This legislation, now heading to the State Assembly for passage, if signed by Governor Cuomo, will provide much needed property tax relief to property owners,” he said.

“The city is pricing people out of the market,” Lanza charged. “This bill will make property taxes more affordable for New York City home, co-op and condo owners before we see more ‘For Sale’ signs on front lawns caused in part by the increasing expense that is property tax.”

Savino, a member of the senate’s Independent Democratic Conference, told Capital New York that the bill will help bring a sense of order to the property tax structure.

“It’s been suggested that it’s a simple solution to a complicated problem. There is no doubt that the New York City property tax system is not just complicated, it’s almost Byzantine,” Capital New York quoted Savino as saying.

 “New York City’s property tax system is a flawed structure that has placed an unfair burden on homeowners for too long. The high cost of owning a home has not only driven residents out of Queens, but has jeopardized the American Dream of owning your own home,” Avella said.

Assemblymember Michael Cusick (D-Staten Island), who will sponsor the legislation in the State Assembly, said the proposed legislation will ensure that the city’s homeowners will no longer have to endure being shocked by unexpected and inflated tax bills. “Not only does it force the city to balance their budget without putting excessive burden on property owners, it gives the property owner peace of mind in balancing their own yearly tax budget,” he said.

Lanza said the state needs to take an aggressive approach to stop the city from raising taxes on families at every turn. “The reality is that residents and businesses are leaving the state in droves because they cannot continue to pay skyrocketing property and job-killing business taxes,” said Lanza. “This bill will help families make ends meet and stay in their home.”

Opponents of the bill, however, contended that by capping property tax increases at two percent, the city would face the possibility of losing funding for schools, parks and other important budget items, since property taxes go toward those areas.

But Golden said the city should be following what is happening in other parts of the state, where there are caps on property taxes. “A lot of the rest of the state of New York lives with a two percent cap, the city of New York should learn to do the same. The reason for this bill is to reduce spending, reduce taxes, and make New York affordable again,” he told the Brooklyn Eagle.


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