BROOKS ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR PROPERTY TAX CAP

Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks announced her support for Governor David A. Paterson’s proposed cap on school property taxes. As the legislative session comes to a close on Monday, the Governor and State Legislative leaders have only days to come to a consensus on this vital property tax relief plan.

“ School property taxes are clearly out of control, and have created the perfect storm of unaffordability that makes it extremely difficult to create jobs and raise a family in New York State, ” said Brooks . “ I applaud both the Governor for attacking the problem of skyrocketing school district property taxes, and the State Senate for their willingness to take action on this issue. New Yorkers need immediate property tax relief, and I call on Albany to do the right thing and approve the property tax cap before the end of the current legislative session. ”

The Governor’s proposed legislation would establish a cap on school property tax levy increases of 4 percent annually, allowing districts to account for inflationary pressures and increased operating costs. As of today, the State Senate has indicated that it is willing to come to an agreement on property tax relief during this legislative session.

“ In Monroe County alone, suburban school districts have increased their property tax levies an average of 44 percent since 2008, and school spending has increased more than three times the rate of inflation during that same period. This untenable situation has forced businesses to close and is driving working families out of our area ,” said Brooks . " Albany must take action immediately to ensure that schools districts are no longer allowed to tax hard-working New Yorkers out of prosperity and out of our community .”

New York State has the highest local property taxes in the nation, at 79 percent above the national average. Monroe County is one of the top ten highest taxed counties in the United States, and school taxes make up nearly two-thirds of the average homeowner’s property tax bill. A Siena College poll this week found that the property tax cap was supported by 74 percent of New York voters.