The Democratic-led Assembly will propose an expanded circuit-breaker to address property tax increases, but plans to reject Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposal to “freeze” hikes on the local level, Speaker Sheldon Silver on Tuesday said. “We’re going to be putting forth an enhanced circuit-breaker for the entire state that I think will give significant property tax relief,” Silver told reporters following a rally in support of the public financing of political campaigns. “It’s not a matter of freeze, we’re going to enhance the circuit-breaker.” Cuomo’s budget includes both a circuit-breaker proposal as well as the freeze plan. A circuit-breaker, generally supported by labor groups, would tie property tax increases to a household’s income. The freeze, meanwhile, would pressure local governments to cap property taxes at 2 percent and then find ways to share services in the second year of the freeze. Property taxpayers would then receive a check making up the difference in the increase over two years. Senate Republicans already indicated on Monday they will offer an alternative plan to the property tax freeze as well, though no details were provided. In the Assembly, Silver said the concern from Democrats is that the freeze won’t cover enough taxpayers. “Someone’s benefit is contingent on some other elected official doing something in order to make them eligible for the freeze,” he said. Silver added, “It’s not about me, it’s about the Democratic conference in the Assembly. Their feeling is everyone needs property tax relief and we want to get it to the most people that we can and we felt the circuit-breaker is the way to go.” The Assembly’s one-house budget bill is also expected to include the estate tax repeal that Cuomo supports, albeit in an altered form. Silver said the conference supports an increase the threshold for exemption for the tax in order to accommodate small businesses. The one-house budget resolution is expected sometime today, Silver said. The Assembly’s budget will add $400 million to education aid more than what Cuomo proposed. At the same time, the resolution will support New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s push to increase taxes on the wealthy in order to fund universal pre-Kindergarten in the city. The Assembly will include a program to publicly fund campaigns.
Posted on: Wed, 12 Mar 2014 14:49:09 +0000
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