Fiscal Policy Institute Property Tax Resources








 

 

 

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mauro@fiscalpolicy.org

 

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Fiscal Policy Institute

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Fiscal Policy Institute Publications

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New York State Commission on Property Tax Relief

www.cptr.state.ny.us

 

     
 

FPI publications

March 6, 2008.  The Role of Property Taxes in New York’s State-Local Tax System. A presentation by Frank Mauro, executive director of FPI, at Changing the Property Tax System in New York, a conference sponsored by TREND, the Tax Reform Effort of Northern Dutchess.

 

February 12, 2008.  Setting the Context for Commission Deliberations. Prepared by Frank Mauro, executive director of FPI, for the February 12, 2008, meeting of the New York State Commission on Property Tax Relief. Additional links:

February 11, 2008.  Property Taxes in New York: A State Problem Calling for a State Solution. Why are property taxes so high in New York? State fiscal policies have created the bind. A look at four reforms that would help - and could be funded in a way that makes the overall tax system fairer. In the meantime, a middle class circuit breaker would ease the pressure on the property tax much more effectively that the Middle Class STAR program.

 

December 13, 2007.  Testimony of Frank Mauro before the NYS Division of the Budget Public Hearing on Property Taxes. Description of the special problems faced by New York localities with relatively weak tax bases compared to their needs. To a large extent, state fiscal policies have caused great pressure on property taxes in needy cities, counties and school districts, including decisions: to reduce revenue sharing; to decrease the share of local school budgets covered by state aid, to divide the non-federal share of Medicaid costs without considering ability to pay, and to allocate STAR benefits in a way that exacerbates fiscal disparities.

December 5, 2007. Testimony of Frank Mauro before the NYS Assembly Standing Committee on Real Property Taxation. Using data from the American Community Survey, FPI estimates the cost, number of beneficiaries and average benefits of the circuit breaker credit, as proposed (Galef/Little A.1575/S.1053) and with several modifications.

October 15, 2007.  Property Taxes on Long Island: Zeroing in on the Problems and Solutions. This report takes a fresh look at the property tax "crisis" and finds that: flawed evaluations have resulted in flawed solutions, taxpayers in poorer districts struggle the most, and voters in wealthy districts choose to pay for high quality schools while voters in poorer districts have a much higher rate of rejecting school budgets. Two oft-touted reforms have a negative impact on local control and school equity; circuit breaker reform in contrast can be well targeted to those who need relief most. Released jointly with Alliance for Quality Education, the Public Policy and Education Fund, and the Long Island Progressive Coalition.

January 10, 2007.  How to Reduce the Pressure on the Property Tax and Ease the Fiscal Burden on Struggling Local Governments. The four-point plan supported by FPI: implement a statewide solution to CFE; increase state's share of Medicaid and base counties' shares on ability to pay; restore commitment to revenue sharing; and eliminate the significant disparities in the STAR program. Prepared for the Center on Governmental Research conference on reforming property taxes in New York. More here.

November 20, 2006.  One New York: An Agenda for Shared Prosperity.  With a new governor in Albany for the first time in 12 years, New Yorkers have high expectations for the future, seeing a rare opportunity for the state to reevaluate its policies in a wide variety of areas. This political moment provides a particularly exciting chance for state government to develop a coherent economic agenda that will allow all of New York's regions to realize their full potential. One New York: An Agenda for Shared Prosperity is the Fiscal Policy Institute's contribution to this much-needed effort.

     

 
Other resources

March 6, 2008.  Property Tax Caps: What We Can Learn From Other States and Circuit Breakers: A Safety Measure to Prevent a Dangerous Overload. Presentations by Robert McKeon of TREND and John Whiteley, Tri-County Committee for Property Tax Relief, respectively, at Changing the Property Tax System in New York, a conference sponsored by TREND, the Tax Reform Effort of Northern Dutchess.


 
 

Events

May 14, 2008, Saratoga Springs. Senior economist Trudi Renwick will participate in a panel discussion of property tax reform at the 2008 Conference on State Taxation sponsored by the Business Council of New York State. At the Gideon Putnam Resort & Spa; panel is 1:45 - 2:45 pm. Agenda, registration and fee information.

May 16, 2008, Greenburgh. Executive director Frank Mauro will speak about school funding and property tax reform at a public meeting of the Alternative Funding and Fiscal Reform for Public Education (AFFIRM ED) task force, convened by Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins. At Greenburgh Town Hall, 177 Hillside Avenue, 10607, 5-8 pm. Registration: rsvpsenatorasc@gmail.com, 914-771-4190. Flier.

PAST EVENTS

May 5, 2008, Latham. Senior economist Trudi Renwick discussed property taxes and the enacted state budget in a presentation to the Long Island Federation of Labor.

May 1, 2008, Goshen. Executive director Frank Mauro talked about the state budget and related tax issues with an emphasis on school finance and property tax relief. Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther also spoke. The forum was sponsored by the Orange County Democratic Alliance.

May 1, 2008, New Paltz. Executive director Frank Mauro spoke about the economics of tax reform at a meeting of the Ulster County Legislature's Blue Ribbon Commission on School Funding and Tax Reform. News articles: Property tax burden takes center stage in speech by fiscal expert (May 3, Kingston Daily Freeman); The problem with property taxes discussed (May 2, Mid-Hudson News).

April 10, 2008, Syracuse.  FPI executive director Frank Mauro spoke at the meeting of the New York State Commission on Property Tax Relief. Webcast - in Real Media or Windows Media.

March 6, 2008, Hyde Park. FPI executive director Frank Mauro spoke at Changing the Property Tax System in New York, a conference for local leaders and lawmakers. The conference was hosted by the Tax Reform Effort of Northern Dutchess (TREND) and sponsored by the Northern Dutchess Alliance. Other speakers included Robert McKeon of TREND and John Whiteley, Tri-County Committee for Property Tax Relief. Presentations: Mauro, McKeon, Whiteley.

February 12, 2008. FPI executive director Frank Mauro spoke at the meeting of the New York State Commission on Property Tax Relief.  Links:

 
         
  News

May 5, 2008.  How Tax Circuit Breaker Would Affect Your Budget. By Delen Goldberg, Syracuse Post-Standard. Also in the Post-Standard: How would a tax "circuit breaker" affect you? Use our calculator. By Douglass Dowty.

Wouldn't it be nice if there were a mechanism to keep your property taxes in line with your income? Proposed bill would cap property taxes based on homeowner's annual income. About 340,000 upstaters could benefit.

May 4, 2008.  Cash-sucking machines. An editorial from Newsday.

Trudi Renwick, senior economist with the left-leaning Fiscal Policy Institute says the formula includes three tiers and at least a half-dozen variables. "To devise a formula that gives money to the highest-income districts," she says, "you really have to get convoluted."

May 3, 2008.  Property tax burden takes center stage in speech by fiscal expert. By Hank Gross, Kingston Daily Freeman.

May 2, 2008.  The problem with property taxes discussed. Mid-Hudson News.

March 14, 2008.  State must work to fix property tax problem. By FPI senior economist Trudi Renwick, The Saratogian.

March 7, 2008.  Meeting explores options for property-tax reform. By Christine Pizzuti, Poughkeepsie Journal.

February 14, 2008.  Griffo cosponsors legislation to cap property taxes for homeowners. Rome Observer.

February 11, 2008.  New kind of property tax cap suggested. By Maria Brandecker, Legislative Gazette.

February 11, 2008.  'Circuit breaker' program may ease taxes. By Maury Thompson, Glens Falls Post-Star.

February 11, 2008.  Griffo boosts bill to limit property taxes based on homeowner income. Rome Sentinel.

February 7, 2008.  Little pushes bill to cap property taxes. By Heather Sackett, Adirondack Daily Enterprise.

February 5, 2008.  Plan to link tax breaks to income: Lawmakers propose "circuit breaker" that gives rebates to those who need it most. By Rick Karlin, Albany Times Union.

February 5, 2008.  N.Y. lawmakers have plan to limit property taxes. By Jay Gallagher, Gannett News Service. Also in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, the Journal News, the Poughkeepsie Journal, and the Ithaca Journal.

February 5, 2008.  Lawmakers plan to limit property tax rebates. By James T. Madore, Newsday.

February 5, 2008.  Little property tax bill gets support. By Maury Thompson, Glens Falls Post-Star.

February 4, 2008.  Lawmakers Offer New Property Tax Relief Proposal. Reported by Walt McClure, WXXA Fox News 23 Albany.

February 4, 2008.  Galef, Little Bill Would Tie Property Taxes to Income: Legislation gains support of tax groups, Fiscal Policy Institute. Press Release, Office of Assemblywoman Sandy Galef.

 

     
     
 

 

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