One of the best things about New York's newly adopted state budget for fiscal 2016 is something that's not in it (yet): a costly new state subsidy of homeowners' local property taxes. Governor Cuomo's Executive Budget proposal included an income tax credit (of the type also known as a "circuit breaker") that, when fully implemented by 2019, would funnel $1.7 billion a year to about half of the state's homeowners, plus renters. Read More
E.J. McMahon, president of the Empire Center for New York State Policy, criticized the various rebate programs, saying they mask the root cause of New York’s high taxes. He said the state needs to reform laws and lessen mandated costs on local governments to drive lower taxes. “This is what happens when the state gets involved in redistributing money in the name of property-tax relief,” he said. Read More
High taxes are a fact in Western New York. And a recent Empire Center for Public Policy report found our region is No. 1 in the state when it comes to tax burden. Read More
New York’s property tax cap has survived a legal challenge from the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) for the second time in six months. Read More
The Legislature is on the verge of following Governor Cuomo's lead by making three big moves in the wrong direction. Read More
A report released by an Albany-based organization that promotes public policy reforms confirms what many Binghamton property owners probably suspected: The local effective property tax rate is higher than any other city in New York. Read More
New York residents bear some of the highest property taxes in the nation, but figures vary throughout the state. Read More
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Monday promoted his plan in which many Long Island homeowners would see an average annual savings of $1,186 over four years by using state funds to subsidize high local property taxes, state officials said. Read More