Recently, the governor outlined a tax relief plan that centered on freezing property taxes, but only if municipalities could adhere to a two-percent property tax cap in the first year, and implement a push for local government consolidation in the second year.
That’s a tall order for local governments that are already struggling to balance budgets and continue providing services to residents.
The governor is asking a lot without providing a key tool to our communities—state unfunded mandate relief.
Unfunded mandates are programs that Albany establishes but doesn’t want to pay for, so they shift that responsibility to local governments.
That means that over the years, hundreds of expensive programs and mandates accumulated, and Albany just handed local governments and, in turn, you, the bills.
The New York State Associa-tion of Counties identified that nine mandates alone consume 90 percent of the local tax levy.
When so much of local budgets is pre-determined by the costs of unfunded mandates, what is left?
There seems to be a disconnect between the governor’s recent property tax freeze push and reality.
His plan is setting our municipalities up to fail, and will not provide property taxpayers real relief.
I know it may sound like an overstatement, but providing mandate relief has the potential to completely revive our small communities and local economies.
Meaningful mandate relief will not only result in a freeze in property tax growth, but can lay the groundwork to lower property taxes for good.
Mandate relief will give local governments the flexibility to invest public dollars in a way that best serves their residents, instead of forced programs and services that don’t fit local needs.
Municipalities will be able to lower their costs and lower taxes, resulting in families and small businesses having more of their own hard-earned money to invest back into the community.
Mandate relief must be taken seriously and action must be taken to implement it. It’s mandate relief that will reinvigorate communities and improve the quality of life for everyone.
I am committed to working with everyone—Republi-cans and Democrats—to get the ball rolling on mandate relief.
This is not a partisan matter and it requires action now.
If you have any comments or questions about mandate relief or any other matter, please contact me at my Herkimer Office at 315-866-1632 or by email at butlerm@assembly.state.ny.us.