Poll numbers and the property tax: Another take
In June, a Siena poll said 74 percent favored imposing a property tax cap for people who saw those bills rise 7 percent annually over five years. Nassau Executive Thomas Suozzi, pushing for a 4 percent-per-year cap on increases, held a press conference with others on his advisory panel. They wore caps bearing number 74.
But Frank Mauro (left), head of the liberal Fiscal Policy Institute, notes Siena followed up last month with a poll showing more respondents— if forced to choose— would rather limit the tax to a percentage of a homeowner’s income, as in the “circuit breaker” backed by the Assembly, which would fund the cut with help from hiking the income tax on wealthier payers.
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Comments (3)
Most homeowners on LI would lose under the Assembly plan because they make too much money and thus would not derive benefits from the circuit breaker. In effect, they would have it even worse than they do now because they would be faced with continued above-inflation tax increases and at the same time have to subsidize others who qualify for the circuit breaker tax break.
The Assembly proposal would also reward those who are illegally working off the books, not claiming cash income on their taxes and otherwise evading paying income taxes. Those who are paid via a payroll check and subjected to withholding will fare much worse than those who break the law.
The Siena poll didn't provide respondents with the circuit breaker income limits and thus allow them to understand that they will realize absolutely no benefit under Shelly Silvers plan. The Assembly plan does nothing to solve the problem. It actually makes it worse.
What do you expect. Shelly hates Long Island with a passion. The LI Assembly Dems do not have the guts to take him on. Vote against them in November. Punish them for letting Shelly kill the tax cap.
The circuit breaker is a joke, it will basically tell me I'm wealthy not considering what it costs to live on long island. I, along with every other Long Islander that pays property taxes deserves as a first step a guaranteed limit on property tax increases. while 4% is TOO high, it is a start as we know otherwise they would increase FAR more than that every year.
It is not a complete solution to the problem, and while it won't reduce taxes it will keep them from increasing to feed the voracious appetites of the school districts that year after year budget by simply multiplying the previous year budget by a high %. They have no idea how to budget, they've never been forced to live on a realistic budget and year after year they work the system so they get more and more to waste.
Is a 4% cap a solution? no, it is one piece however to begin to fix the problem. ANYONE in the assemby that votes against it should be VOTED out of office. Albany is owned by the Teacher's UNION when in fact is should be owned by we, the tax-payer!
120+ disparate school districts on Long Island all fighting for MORE money every year, wasteful spending and they cry every year for MORE money. Here is an idea, Go 'F' yourselves, the well has run dry and the current system does not work.