Renzi: Albany’s Partisan Games Won’t Cut Our Taxes

Submitted article

State Senate candidate Dave Renzi today called on Albany politicians to stop playing partisan games and get together on a plan to cut New Yorkers’ property taxes.

“Governor Paterson took a bold chance in putting forward a sensible plan to slow the growth of our school property taxes. The Senate took up the challenge and passed additional reforms to help lower our taxes and help families balance our budgets. But we won’t see real results until both houses of the Legislature — Democrats and Republicans — agree to make property tax relief a priority and a reality,” said Renzi.

“Taxpayers have tired of Albany’s excuses and politicians playing the blame-game. It‘s more important than ever that Albany acts now — failure is not an option.”

Renzi was among the earliest advocates for Governor Paterson’s tax cap. In addition, he favors reforms to end Albany’s sneaky practice of imposing mandates on schools and local governments without funds to pay for the added costs, forcing local taxpayers to pick up the tab.

Renzi also has called for reforms to ensure adequate state aid funding for school districts in Central and Northern New York. A $1 million shortfall in the current year’s state budget contributed to $10 million in new and higher taxes facing local property taxpayers.

“Next month, homeowners across Jefferson, Oswego and St. Lawrence Counties will open their school tax bills and be greeted by an unwelcome surprise,” Renzi said. “Without real change and meaningful reform, next year’s bills could be even worse, considering the state’s faltering economy and a state budget that is hemorrhaging red ink.”

Renzi said he was distressed that in the days leading to the Senate session, Albany’s dysfunction was more apparent than ever.. Earlier this week, leading members of the Senate’s minority caucus indicated they might not even show up for the special session on the property tax cap.

missing or outdated ad config

Print this entry