I was pleased to see that today’s report released by the New York State Tax Relief Commission highlighted several common-sense ideas to help relieve the immense tax burden on New York’s families, businesses and manufacturers. Accelerating the removal of the 18-a Energy Tax, reducing the Corporate Franchise Tax on businesses and manufacturers and continuing to address the crippling property tax burden are steps we must take. However, I was disappointed that the Commission’s Report failed to address the issue of unfunded mandates that are the major driver of rising property taxes that are crippling our local school districts and municipal budgets.

I hope the Governor and the Legislature will show that New York can back up its “Open for Business” slogan and turn the talk of providing meaningful tax relief into a reality. Our job creators are concerned with what we do, not what we say, and it is imperative that we take action to provide meaningful tax relief to encourage private sector investment in our Upstate economy and create jobs.