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ALBANY -- ”The Governor wants it, 75% of NYers want it.. So what’s the hold up on a property tax cap???
The political horse trading over a property tax cap in Albany began in earnest this week.
While Republicans don't like the idea as stated by Brian Kolb, Minority Leader, NYS Assembly, "Rent regulations is different than property tax relief."
The political vig for a property tax cap in the State Assembly is still expansion of rent regulation. But Kolb doesn't understand why the Assembly simply can’t hold an up or down vote on a bill which the Governor said was his legislative centerpiece. "I would like to know why Governor Cuomo can't get his own party in the Assembly to state whether they're for or against. Yes, no, why, that's what we're looking for and that's what we'd like to know."
The Senate passed a tax cap weeks ago and they are urging the Assembly to do the same. So far, it hasn’t! The Assembly needs some leverage with the other house if it wants to extend rent regulation.
There is also ANOTHER sticking point involving a tax cap – it’s the issue of exemptions.
Peter Baynes, NYS Conference of Mayors said, "We issued a report back in December called you can't cap what you can't control."
Baynes supports Cuomo's 2% cap, but only if it comes with mandate relief, which the Governor has said he will consider because NOT considering it could kill the bill.
Responded Governor Cuomo, "That would be unintelligent, that would be rigid, it would be counter productive. So obviously I’m open to a discussion but, the concept of a cap. And yes, do you have a lot of opposition to it, I understand that. The school districts and local governments are oppose to this...increases to 5, 6, 7, 8 percent."
Even among Democrats in the Assembly, support for a cap runs deep; the latest Siena poll showing that 75% of NYers are in favor of a cap.
But Speaker Silver is also being pushed by his members on rent control. Until both issues are addressed, one house bills and one party news conferences may substitute for any real negotiation.
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