Governor Andrew Cuomo, in his first state of the state address, unveiled his new plan for New York. In a spirited speech, Cuomo told New Yorkers he wants to cap property taxes increases at 2% or the rate of inflation, whichever is lower.
Karla Gebman has lived in her Central New York home for 27 years and says she is tired of seeing her taxes go up. "I think it's about time the homeowners got a break, with more and more families not having money to pay for groceries that keep going up and up. We could use it if he could keep things under control," she said."
In front of a 2,000 people at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center, Cuomo personalized the struggle to make ends meet. He introduced us Geraldine Sullivan of Rochester, an 81-year-old woman who had to go back to work to help pay her rising property taxes.
A scenario many New Yorkers can sympathize with. "I think it's outrageous, the taxes on properties," said Mary Sims.
New York has some of the highest property taxes in the country. Former Onondaga County Executive Nick Pirro sat on a commission for property tax relief. In 2008, it recommended a tax cap to the Paterson administration, but the assembly blocked it.
Pirro says if this one passes, the cap needs to come with mandate relief too. "You can't have local governments and school districts, where 70 percent of the property taxes come from, you can't have them with a cap and then be forcing them with all these unfunded mandates from the state. So one has to go hand in hand with the other," he said.
Cuomo has also formed a committee to find ways to cut unfunded, and underfunded, mandate and subsequently bring taxes down.
Still, some local officials are worried a cap could block needed revenue. "As of right now, we aren't in favor of it. My worry is the affect it will have on the services we give to our people," said Town of Geddes Supervisor Manny Falcone.
Lawmakers in the both the Senate, and Assembly have said they support Cuomo's new plan for New York.
What do you think about a property tax cap?
