Fiscal Policy Institute Property Tax Resources








 

 

 

SEARCH

 

 

DONATE


 

CONTACT

info@fiscalpolicy.org

 

ALBANY

Frank Mauro

Fiscal Policy Institute

1 Lear Jet Lane

Latham, NY 12110

518-786-3156

mauro@fiscalpolicy.org

 

NEW YORK CITY

James Parrott

Fiscal Policy Institute

11 Park Place

New York, NY 10007

212-721-5624

parrott@fiscalpolicy.org

 

 

   
  Property Tax Resources    
 

On this page -

Noteworthy

Commission Links

Fiscal Policy Institute Publications

Other Resources

Events

News


     
  Noteworthy

 

December 21, 2009.  Property tax fix pondered in N.Y. Senate. By Cara Matthews, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.

 

October 28, 2009.  School advocates: Cuts unfairly applied. State formula hurts poor districts, calculations show. By Meghan E. Murphy, Middletown Times Herald-Record.

 

October 13, 2009.  State lawmakers question property-tax exemptions. By Cara Matthews, Elmira Star-Gazette.

 

April 22, 2009.  Omnibus Consortium Joins With Senator Krueger to Advance Circuit Breaker and Promote Real Property Tax Reform (S. 4239). Consortium calls for action on this bill by end of session. Press release.

 

March 27, 2009.  Groups Support Governor Paterson’s Proposal to Eliminate the STAR Rebate Checks; Consortium Says This Flawed Program Must be Replaced with Meaningful Circuit Breaker. Watch this video press conference to learn more about how redirecting the funds now wasted on STAR rebates will help balance this year's budget and in the longer term work toward tax fairness. Press release. More at omnibustaxsolution.org >>

March 12, 2009.  Exploring progressive changes to New York State’s personal income tax system. This testimony, presented by FPI executive director Frank Mauro to the New York State Senate Select Committee on Budget and Tax Reform, includes a discussion of the Omnibus Tax Reform Bill. The goal of the bill: to restore fairness to taxation with both short term relief and long term solutions. More at omnibustaxsolution.org >>

May 21, 2008.  New York Shouldn't Look to Massachusetts as a Model for Property Tax Reform. With the Commission on Property Tax Relief poised to recommend that the state impose a rigid cap on property taxes for education based on Massachusetts' Proposition 2 ½, a report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities describes the problems the law has created in Massachusetts and explains that the impact in New York could be even more severe.

More about Hidden Consequences:
     Press release - html, pdf
     Executive summary - html
     Full report - pdf

Among the key lessons:

  • A tax cap won't make government services cost less.

  • Claims that caps will produce large savings through "efficiencies" are overblown.

  • Tax caps can be particularly harmful if adopted during a weak economy.

  • State aid can't be relied upon to fill the gap.

  • Changes in school enrollment can have a big impact.

  • Without effectively targeted state aid, low-income communities will fall even further behind.

  • Wealthier communities will override a tax cap more frequently than poorer ones.

  • Middle-income communities might end up bearing the brunt of a cap.

RESPONSE from the Commission on Property Tax Relief >>
May 21, 2008.  Statement from Chairman Thomas J. Suozzi.

 

MORE from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities >>
May 28, 2008.  Suozzi's Statement Ignores Truth about Massachusetts' Property Tax Cap.

 

June 10, 2008. Broad-based coalition unites to oppose arbitrary property tax cap. In a joint press release, representatives of a diverse group of organizations summarized the key shortcomings of property tax caps like the proposal advanced by Gov. David Paterson. The coalition members argued that New York needs property tax relief, but that an artificial cap would harm educational programs and doom efforts to close the achievement gap.
 

July 14, 2008. Siena New York Poll: Circuit Breaker & Gas Tax Cut Top Property Tax Cap.

While New York voters strongly support both a property tax cap and a property tax "circuit breaker," which ensures that property taxes do not exceed a certain percentage of a homeowner's income, when forced to choose between the two, a majority prefer the circuit breaker, according to a new Siena (College) Research Institute poll released today. More voters would rather see New York eliminate 32 cents of state gas taxes than cap property tax increases.
     ...

"New Yorkers overwhelmingly want tax relief. Property tax cap to limit increases? Yes, 69 percent. Circuit breaker to limit what they pay in property taxes? Yes, 75 percent," said Steven Greenberg, spokesman for the Siena New York Poll. "But if they can only have one form of property tax relief, 52 percent - including a majority of Democrats, Republicans, upstaters and downstaters - say they want the circuit breaker."

More about the poll:
     Press release and poll results - html and pdf
     Cross tabs - pdf
     Editorial from the Albany Times Union - html

 


 

     
  New York State Commission on Property Tax Relief

www.cptr.state.ny.us


     
 


FPI publications

March 12, 2009.  Exploring progressive changes to New York State’s personal income tax system. This testimony, presented by FPI executive director Frank Mauro to the New York State Senate Select Committee on Budget and Tax Reform, includes a discussion of the Omnibus Tax Reform Bill. The goal of the bill: to restore fairness to taxation with both short term relief and long term solutions. More at omnibustaxsolution.org >>

 

February 22, 2009.  Major education organizations release analysis showing 64 percent of school districts face cuts in excess of $15,000 per classroom. Sixty districts face cuts over $30,000 per classroom due to Governor Paterson's $2.5 billion in school aid cuts. Education committee chairwomen Assemblywoman Nolan and Senator Oppenheimer join education advocates in calling for school aid restorations. Organizations call for fair share tax reform. Release with 14-page district-by-district analysis.

 

January 30, 2009.  School Finance On Long Island: An Analysis of State and Local Funding Patterns. FPI researched and wrote this paper for the Rauch Foundation as a supplemental report to Long Island Index 2009, a study of how Long Island is faring as a region. The index includes reports on specific indicators selected to reflect region-wide impact and interests, and identifies emerging trends and gaps that should be addressed now to avoid future problems. FPI was also cited widely in another section of the Index, Long Island's Educational Structure.

 

August 15, 2008.  Short Term Tax Relief and Long Term Tax Reform: An Omnibus Bill Approach. Although the current property tax debate is profoundly concerned with tax fairness, tax reform options are receiving little attention as elected officials, the media, advocates and the general public look for ways to deliver to tax relief. The immediate priority is best treated by a circuit-breaker; longer term, in order to ease pressure on the local property tax base in a geographically balanced way, the state should take over $6 billion of school costs and assume $3 billion of revenue sharing.

 

June 2, 2008.  Testimony on Proposed Legislation Addressing Real Property Taxation Issues. Presented by FPI Executive Director Frank Mauro to the Senate Standing Committee on Local Government and Assembly Standing Committee on Real Property Taxation. The Middle Class STAR rebate program is better targeted than the original STAR program in that in takes income into consideration. However, Middle Class STAR is still not efficient and equitable property tax relief, since it does not take the size of a homeowner's property tax bill into consideration and it is still based on county and school district average of important variables. A circuit breaker like S.1053-a/A.1575-a would address both of these shortcomings. The bill would be improved by a broader definition of income.

 

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

A pair of op eds on the Massachusetts property tax cap from the Albany Times Union, September 7, 2008: A taxing solution: A tax cap forces Mass. towns to think about spending, by Richard P. Tisei, leader of the Republican minority in the Massachusetts Senate, and Bay State's Proposition 2 1/2 not without difficulties, by Michael J. Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation.

A point/counterpoint pair of op eds on the proposed tax cap from the Albany Times Union, July 20, 2008 Cap pressures government, not residents, to perform, by John J. Faso, former gubernatorial candidate, and Circuit breaker the best way to limit property tax impact, by Ron Deutsch, executive director of New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness.

Property Tax Caps White Paper. From the New York State PTA. (July 14, 2008)

TREND NY Poll Says New Yorkers Prefer Circuit Breaker over Cap. The Tax Reform Effort of Northern Dutchess (TREND) conducted a random automated phone survey of more than 500 registered voters, and found that New Yorkers prefer a property tax circuit breaker to a property tax cap two to one. (June 23, 2008)

It's Elementary. A monthly column by John Yinger, director of the Education Finance and Accountability Program and professor, Syracuse University's Maxwell School. See especially:

Materials from the New York State Council of School Superintendents.

Galef/Little Circuit Breaker Calculator with both the upstate and the downstate brackets. From the Real Property Tax Reform Coalition website.

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. (March 6, 2008)
 


 
 

Events

PAST EVENTS

October 19, 2009, Hopewell Junction.  Frank Mauro of the Fiscal Policy Institute discussed the workings of New York State’s current property tax system as part of a public forum on Property Tax Relief for New Yorkers hosted by Assemblyman Marcus Molinaro. Also as part of this forum, John Whiteley of the New York State Property Tax Reform Coalition discussed property tax relief and reform options for New York State. Video >>

October 13, 2009, Albany.  Roundtable Meeting: Real Property Tax Exemptions. Convened by Senate Select Committee on Budget and Tax Reform, chaired by Senator Liz Krueger, as mounting property tax exemptions impose greater burdens on taxpayers and potentially act a hurdle to property tax reform. FPI's Frank Mauro was among the participants.

August 23, 2008, Elizabethtown. Achieving a Fairer Tax System. A discussion forum sponsored by the Lincoln Pond Association. Presentations by John Whiteley (of the Tri-County Committee for Property Tax Relief and the NYS Property Tax Reform Coalition) and Frank Mauro of FPI, followed by a general discussion.

August 18, 2008, Albany.  Property Tax Caps: The Massachusetts Experience and Lessons for New York. Returning for a special session, the New York State legislature is poised to consider the governor's call to place caps on our state's school property taxes. How would the property tax cap proposal work and what are the consequences? Sponsored by FPI and New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness. Featured speaker: Iris Lav of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

June 13, 2008, White Plains. The Future of Property Tax Relief in New York State, a New York State Senate Public Hearing. The public was invited to testify on whether New York should  take over the county share of Medicaid; expand the real property tax circuit-breaker; find a more efficient, fairer way to fund public schools; impose a school property tax cap; or consolidate school districts or local governments.  Flier.

June 10, 2008, Albany.  Broad-based coalition unites to oppose arbitrary property tax cap. In a joint press release, representatives of a diverse group of organizations summarized the key shortcomings of property tax caps like the proposal advanced by Gov. David Paterson. The coalition members argued that New York needs property tax relief, but that an artificial cap would harm educational programs and doom efforts to close the achievement gap.

June 7-8, 2008, Long Island. Iris Lav, deputy director of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, was a guest on WLIW's public affairs show, Crosson and Welles. Link to video. Lav is the lead author of Hidden Consequences: Lessons from Massachusetts for States Considering a Property Tax Cap.

May 22, 2008, New City. FPI executive director Frank Mauro was the keynote speaker at a public meeting on the property tax circuit breaker. Hosted by State Senator Thomas Morahan and Assemblymembers Ellen Jaffee and Kenneth Zebrowski, Jr. at the Rockland County Legislative Chambers. Handout: Property Taxes in New York: A State Problem Calling for a State Solution.

May 16, 2008, Greenburgh. Public meeting of the Alternative Funding and Fiscal Reform for Public Education (AFFIRM ED) task force, convened by Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins to explore ways to provide reliable, adequate funding for public education. This public meeting was intended to inform the ongoing effort of AFFIRM Ed to address this important issue and the many related issues, including tax reform. Flier.

May 14, 2008, Saratoga Springs. Senior economist Trudi Renwick  participated in a panel discussion of property tax reform at the 2008 Conference on State Taxation sponsored by the Business Council of New York State. Agenda, presentation.

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). Radio: - MP3 (May 1, WAMC).

April 10, 2008, Syracuse.  FPI executive director Frank Mauro spoke at the meeting of the New York State Commission on Property Tax Relief. Transcript (starting on page 7).

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

 

December 21, 2009.  Property tax fix pondered in N.Y. Senate. By Cara Matthews, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.

 

October 28, 2009.  School advocates: Cuts unfairly applied. State formula hurts poor districts, calculations show. By Meghan E. Murphy, Middletown Times Herald-Record.

 

October 13, 2009.  State lawmakers question property-tax exemptions. By Cara Matthews, Elmira Star-Gazette.

 

June 2, 2009.  Circuit breaker supporters still hopeful despite a lack of funds. By Rick Karlin, Capitol Confidential.

May 10, 2009.  Property-tax pain growing throughout the state: As economy stalls and prices rise, more are feeling the squeeze. By Meghan E. Murphy, Middletown Times Herald-Record.

CASE STUDY

Lisa and Anthony Kimball of the Village of Montgomery bought their home three years ago at the peak of the market. Their budget is now being squeezed by increasing property taxes. Here's how the three most-discussed property reform bills in the state Senate would impact their taxes.

2008

Income: $85,000

Town tax: $1,827.59

Village tax: $2,426.60

School tax: $5,396.30

Total: $9,650.49

 

OPTION 1

Bill numbers: S.253/A.7094

 

What it does: Establishes a circuit breaker credit that covers all property taxes based on property value. Establishes brackets where those making under $100,000 get the largest credit, which gradually decreases so taxpayers making more than $250,000 receive no credit.

 

Total relief:

2009: $0.00

2010 and beyond: $3,185.34

 

OPTION 2

Bill number: S.4239

 

What it does: Similar to S.253/A.7094. Establishes a circuit breaker credit for all property taxes based on property value. The bill phases in over four years to give the state time to shift funding. Taxpayers would see less savings in the first three years. Those making under $100,000 get the largest credit, which gradually decreases so taxpayers making more than $250,000 receive no credit.

 

Total relief:

2009: $1,400.34

2010: $1,697.84

2011: $2,292.84

2012 and beyond: $3,185.34

 

OPTION 3

Bill number: S.1849-C

 

What it does: Re-establishes the STAR rebate checks program beginning in fall 2009 and establishes a circuit breaker credit that covers school property taxes beginning with the 2010 calendar year tax year.

 

Total relief:

2009: $421.22

2010: $628.63

2011: $698.83

2012 and beyond: $769.04

Source: Calculations provided for the Times Herald-Record by Frank Mauro, executive director of the Fiscal Policy Institute

April 24, 2009.  Property tax cap pushed. By Paul Post, The Saratogian. Press release.

 

April 13, 2009.  NY lawmakers asked to consider coalition’s circuit breaker tax plan. By Anna Helhoski, Legislative Gazette.

 

March 27, 2009.  Groups Support Governor Paterson’s Proposal to Eliminate the STAR Rebate Checks; Consortium Says This Flawed Program Must be Replaced with Meaningful Circuit Breaker. Watch this video press conference to learn more about how redirecting the funds now wasted on STAR rebates will help balance this year's budget and in the longer term work toward tax fairness. Press release. More at omnibustaxsolution.org >>

March 23, 2009.  Personal income tax reform: The least damaging way to close New York State's budget gap. FPI's Frank Mauro interviewed by Fred Dicker on his Albany radio show, TALK 1300 WGDJ. Includes discussion of the omnibus tax reform bill. (Interview starts at 33:50.)

March 20, 2009.  The New York State budget: proposals to raise taxes and cut spending and whether we'll have an on time budget this year. FPI's Frank Mauro interviewed by Host David Galletly on the Capitol Connection, WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

February 4, 2009.  NYS Budget: The STAR Rebate. By Rachel Ward, WXXI.

January 20, 2009.  Group wants shift in tax philosophy. By Edward J. Carr, Legislative Gazette.

January 15, 2009.  Advocates push for tax-relief plan. By Heather Senison, Journal News.

January 14, 2009.  Groups wants state to relieve middle-class tax burden. By Heather Senison, Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin.

January 14, 2009.  Reformers to propose new property tax cap law. By Paul Post, The Saratogian.

August 28, 2008.  Let wealthy relieve tax burden of poor. By Dan Cantor, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.

August 22, 2008.  Poll numbers and the property tax: Another take. By Dan Janison, Newsday's Spin Cycle blog.

August 22, 2008.  Compromise remains elusive. By Joseph Spector, Journal News.

August 18, 2008.  Tax cap lessons from Bay State. Reported by Curtis Schick. Capital News 9. Also on Syracuse News 10.

August 17, 2008.  Paterson's tax cap proposal criticized. By Sara Foss, Schenectady Daily Gazette.

August 16, 2008.  Property tax reform proponents unveil plan: Legislators, group back 'circuit breaker.' By John Davis, Poughkeepsie Journal.

The occasion was the unveiling of the Omnibus Bill that would combine short-term tax relief and long-term tax reform. It proposes enacting a "circuit breaker" and, in the long run, shifting costs to the state.

The Omnibus Bill is the brainchild of Frank Mauro, director of the Fiscal Policy Institute, an Albany-based economic think tank.

"We came up with this vision that sort of embraces the best of a number of bills out there," he said.

August 16, 2008.  Bill would offer immediate relief on property tax. By Jeremiah Horrigan, Middletown Times Herald-Record.

August 16, 2008.  Property tax reform bill proposed at Ulster conference. Mid-Hudson News. Also in the Catskill News.

August 16, 2008.  Ulster lawmaker, institute chief offer property tax reform bill. Kingston Daily Freeman.

August 14, 2008.  Galef pushes for 'circuit-breaker' tax relief bill. By Robert Marchant, Journal News.

August 12, 2008.  Capping the Tax Growth. WBNG-Binghamton.

August 7, 2008.  Finding fair funding in New York without tax caps. By Greg Jobin-Leeds, chairman of the Schott Foundation for Public Education and vice chairman of Education Voters of America, Newsday.

July 30, 2008.  A special roundtable discussion on New York's economic health convened by WAMC-Albany in the wake of Governor Paterson's proposed budget cuts. Hosted by Alan Chartock.

July 16, 2008.  Rethinking caps. An editorial from the Albany Times Union.

We hope this comes as a wake-up call to Governor Paterson and the state lawmakers who continue to push for a cap on property taxes of 4 percent a year.  [...]

More New Yorkers, it seems, are recognizing that a better alternative is the circuit breaker, which would give homeowners an income tax reduction based on the percentage of their earnings that go toward property taxes.

July 1, 2008.  Tax Cap Hot Topic this Summer. By Karen DeWitt, WXXI. A story about this summer's battling advocacy efforts - with www.taxcutnow.com promoting the circuit breaker concept and lining up against www.taxcapnow.com.

June 16, 2008.  Arguments Against a Property Tax Cap. A segment on Capital Tonight with Brian Taffe. David Little,  director of governmental affairs for the New York School Boards Association, summarizes many of the key arguments against a property tax cap, and FPI executive director Frank Mauro presents the Fiscal Policy Institute's alternative approach to property tax reform and relief.

June 12, 2008.  Too 'Blunt' - Objections to governor's tax cap plan have some merit. An editorial from the Syracuse Post-Standard.

The governor should take another run through his toolbox and consider some more precise instruments. One promising possibility is the so-called "circuit-breaker" plan that is mentioned in Suozzi's report.

June 5, 2008.  Researchers Split on Educational Effects of Property Tax Cap. By Elizabeth Green, New York Sun.

June 4, 2008.  Property Taxes '08, an Election-Year Gimmick in New York State. An editorial from the New York Times.

The best part of the Suozzi proposal could be done more quickly. That is a "circuit breaker" program that would freeze individual property taxes when they became too large a percentage of a homeowner's income.

June 4, 2008.  Tax cap caveats. An editorial from the Albany Times Union.

June 4, 2008.  Paterson to propose school property tax cap. By Bob Conner, Schenectady Gazette.

June 3, 2008.  Taxed to the Max: NY Homeowners Need Relief. A op-ed by Tom Suozzi, New York Post.

June 3, 2008.  Cap called key to tax relief. By Rick Karlin, Albany Times Union.

June 2, 2008.  Eying the Bay State's Tax Cap. By Jacob Gershman, New York Sun.

May 28, 2008.  Silver would nix 'circuit-breaker': Tax relief plan can wait, he says. By Jay Gallagher, Poughkeepsie Journal. Also in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.

May 27, 2008.  Tax cap report, though late, still stirring debate. By Maria Brandecker, Legislative Gazette.

May 24, 2008.  Property-tax cap on the table: Plan faces tough fight in Legislature. By Paul Brooks, Middletown Times Herald-Record.

May 23, 2008.  Tax Relief: Property taxes can be reined in without hurting schools. An editorial from the Syracuse Post-Standard.

Residents are rightly fed up with their property tax burden and rightly concerned about school spending. But a blanket cap on how much their districts can spend could end up hurting both them and their children. The circuit-breaker plan would do neither.

May 23, 2008.  Rocklanders hear and discuss plans for a state tax-decrease program. By Steve Lieberman, Journal News.

A story about the May 22 forum at which FPI executive director Frank Mauro spoke. Handout: Property Taxes in New York: A State Problem Calling for a State Solution.

May 22, 2008.  Report blasts tax-cap idea. By Jay Gallagher, Journal News.

May 22, 2008.  Property Tax Commission Report Due June 3rd. From EcuProphets,  "weblog of the New York State ecumenical community committed to peace and justice."

May 21, 2008.  Tax cap talk. By Rick Karlin, Times Union Capitol Confidential.

May 20, 2008.  Plan would cap property tax hikes: Proposal is one of several recommendations from state commission to be presented June 3. By Jim Odato, Albany Times Union.

May 20, 2008.  Learn about 'circuit breaker' bill to zap property tax burden. An op ed by Irv Feiner, Journal News.

May 18, 2008.  Rockland state legislators to host forum on tax relief proposal. By Sarah Netter, Journal News.

May 13, 2008.  Homeowners might get help: Proposal aims at taxes. By Paul Brooks, Middletown Times Herald-Record.

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.