Comments on: Property Taxes – What Can be Done?

By: Vicki

Vicki — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 13:31:49 +0000

As a school board member in Nassau County for 12 years, I can tell you without a doubt that taxes will continue to rise and rise until someone in Albany has the guts to get some control on both spending and entitlements. Teachers and Administrators get their benefits paid into retirment by law. NCLB is a disaster on our budgets. The ‘Roslyn Effect’ has made budgets for Auditors go from $15 to $80 K per year in my very small district. We have no choice. Special Ed and BOCES, Retirement, Transportation, Utilities and Health costs rise dramatically every year. Even without salary increases (which will NEVER happen) you would see your taxes increase.
Oh, by the way, the ENTIRE legislature voted FOR a bill that would require, if at a stalemate in contract negotiations, the last offer by the UNION would be the raise. THIS WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY by the legislature and vetoed by Pataki. Who knows what Spitzer will do. If you don’t believe me, go to NYSSBA.org and check it out for yourself.
School board members are fighting everyone for YOU! We have to fight Albany, Local Legislators, the Gov, and our staff at negotiations time. For this, the taxpayers think we are mindless idiots who raise taxes without a care in the world. We VOLUNTEER and pay taxes too. NYS school board members are the largest elected group of officials in the WORLD and we work for FREE

By: Will Condo

Will Condo — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 16:34:51 +0000

You ask New York residents to “start thinking about what government services (we) would be willing to give up…to reduce property taxes?” in this week’s Post Newspapers. Unfortunately, most New Yorkers have little idea of how tax dollars are spent, for a variety of reasons including access to the state budget and agency expenditures. Is there agency duplication of programs-probably. Are member items applied to projects that have substantial value ? Do we have government employees who have any real function ? When we have two local legislators listed as $10,000. level sponsors for Ad Council programs, or the just announced $192,000. grant from the state’s Quality Communities program to the Landmark Society for yet another Erie Canal planning study, or the $100,000. grant to support a local delegation traveling to Israel to attract business ( I believe one local job was created), one has to wonder. And as far as voters returning legislators to office, the very people who have created our economic decline with high taxation and bureaucracy ,when local business groups such as Rochester Business Alliance and the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle endorse virtually every incumbent, how will there ever be a turnover in Albany representation ? Perhaps we are incapable of saving ourselves-but let’s hope for reform in Albany and the media’s presentation of the necessary facts to educate the public as a start to a new day for New York.

By: David Lum

David Lum — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 14:19:32 +0000

The well-heeled organizations that lead lobbying groups in Albany know that they will obtain a superb return on their investment in campaign contributions. Education is one example: while we spend more per student that any of the 50 states, our high school dropout rate is notably worse than nearby states.
So while we proudly pay for “the most expensive education money can buy”, we’re releasing young people into our population that are missing basic skills.
While there are a few exceptions, this monster of a tax simply drives people and jobs out of our formerly great state.

By: Robert Torzynski

Robert Torzynski — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 18:30:59 +0000

I’m glad to see this issue get so much attention, I hope some positive action results.

The Governor’s idea sounds great as a start. Focus on the middle class (and below) for tax relief. STAR has problems, but don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater. Beef up STAR until it can be replaced with something better (like a Property Tax CAP.)

Senator Bruno’s also got a good plan. Rebates are a gimmick but they spend like real money! They also provide political cover to cut spending in environments like Albany, so beholden to special interests.

Finally, the Assembly proposes another “Blue Ribbon Committee”. Just what we need (snicker). Unless they propose a Tax CAP with teeth — to be included within the State Constitution or the Consolidated Laws, it will be much ado about nothing.

I’m really suprised that nobody in the State of New York (except me, it seems) is promoting a Tax CAP. Basic math, but it’s not even on the radar screen. What gives?

Robert Torzynski
Greece, New York

By: Rick Quatro

Rick Quatro — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 13:06:45 +0000

Your last paragraph is the key. In order to cut taxes, you ultimately have to cut spending. The quandary for politicians is that they use spending, including “member items” (i.e., “pork”), to ensure reelection. Unlike the private sector, they have no real incentive to cut spending.

New Yorkers, particularly the middle class, need to say “No” to government entitlements. It may be tempting to take government money when your child needs braces, but you are better off paying your own way. What you “save” by receiving government help you will ultimately pay in higher taxes. That is the message the taxpayers need to get. Then they can say to their elected officials, “Cut taxes AND spending, and we will keep you in Albany.”