“During the governor’s State of the State address many new programs, initiatives and overall new direction the state should be headed in were proposed. The governor mentioned creating a commission to come up with three recommendations that would allow us to provide long-term property tax relief to homeowners and businesses. The three proposals would be aimed at reforming, providing equity and capping New York’s property taxes.

Providing long-term property tax relief for homeowners and businesses will be put to the test during the 2008 Legislative Session. If leadership is serious about addressing the number one problem confronting New Yorkers, then we should be able to provide it to them. Action will truly speak louder than words and voters will let us know this November if we have done a good job.

Currently, there are fourteen states that implement a property tax cap, and their effectiveness in providing relief has been studied by leading educators. We should be able to evaluate their flaws and successes and formulate and implement a plan. The commission recommendations will not come in time to benefit property taxpayer in this year’s budget or in the near future.

Additionally, the Governor mentioned mortgaging New York’s future lottery revenue in an effort to generate funding for expanding SUNY and CUNY universities. There does need to be a plan that would expand and increase the educational opportunities at our state universities, but not at the expense of revenue that directly provide benefits to school districts and children in K through 12. His plan would borrow projected lottery revenue, placing another debt burden on taxpayers, while limiting the amount of revenue earmarked for our school districts.”