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Westchester”™s property tax burden is among the three highest in the nation, according to a recent report from the Washington, D.C.-based Tax Foundation.
According to a Westchester County Association (WCA) presentation by President William M. Mooney Jr., 75 percent of WCA members think that property taxes in the county are an obstacle to attracting and retaining business.
Eighty-four percent of WCA members support consolidation of local government services to reduce property tax, but 85 percent think that school districts cannot be consolidated without sacrificing the quality of education. The bulk of local taxes go to schools.
A Property Tax Cap Alliance was formed last month to cap property taxes in New York state.
The broad-based coalition of individuals, associations and businesses was created after the state Legislature failed to act on Gov. David Paterson”™s proposed property tax cap legislation and now has more than 600 members statewide.
The Alliance supports Paterson”™s proposal to cap annual school property taxes at 4 percent or 120 percent of the consumer price index, whichever is lower, as recommended by the Suozzi Commission.
“The property tax is already the largest tax bill for many businesses and the crushing burden is killing jobs in this state,” said Kenneth Adams, president & CEO of The Business Council of New York State. “The property tax cap is the essential first step to bring long-term relief to New York’s taxpayers.”
The cap was the key recommendation of The New York State Commission on Property Tax Relief, which issued a preliminary report on June 2.
Under Paterson”™s proposal, a supermajority of a school district”™s voters can choose to override the limit.
According to The Business Council of Westchester”™s “2007 Business Climate Survey,” taxes are the number-one legislative concern for more than 60 percent of small and large companies alike.
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The Business Council”™s survey was further supported by a statewide survey in June conducted by the Siena College Research Institute that showed that 74 percent of New Yorkers favor the cap.
“We are the voice in Albany for more than 1,200 businesses in Westchester County, and we”™re listening to what they tell us: We must take action now to fight back against New York”™s overwhelming tax burden,” said Business Council President and CEO Marsha Gordon. “We support the Governor”™s proposal as a means of restraining the growth in property taxes and the cost of doing business in New York state, and urge others to do so as well.”
Mooney said if the school systems consolidate their IT departments, taxpayers would save millions.
Supporters of the cap were urged to join the coalition at www.taxcapnow.org.
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