The governor’s 2008-09 Executive Budget delays implementation of funding to critical areas that would provide property tax relief to those who need it most, our middle-class homeowners. He is planning to delay a 17 percent increase in the basic Middle Class STAR rebate for one year. This is unacceptable, as our hard working homeowners deserve property tax relief now. They cannot afford to wait for the governor’s commission to study the problem of New York’s antiquated tax system and make proposals down the road.

Education funding will also be feeling the effects of a delay in promised funding. The minimum increase in Foundation Aid a school district can receive is being lowered from 3 percent to 2 percent. The minimum numbers are not even half of the recently released Department of Labor’s 4.1 percent rate of inflation for 2007. School districts cannot be expected to meet the needs of their students if they receive an increase less than the current rate of inflation.

Delaying tax relief for our middle-class homeowners is not the solution for our taxpayers’ woes. The governor and the Legislature should focus instead on a plan that will create solid long-term tax relief solutions. The time for change is now and we need to embrace this opportunity and move forward with a plan that does not place additional burdens upon our middle-class property taxpayers.