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PROPERTY TAX REFORM TASK FORCE
P.O. Box 217, 3775 Main Street
Stone Ridge, NY 12484
A coalition of the Towns of Marbletown, Rochester, Rosendale, and Wawarsing
March 2005
Dear Neighbor:
The Task Force was initially formed last Spring at the suggestion of the Marbletown Town Board to look into the sources of the extraordinary increase in property taxes in the last few years and to suggest action that could reduce future increases. The Task Force has since expanded to include representatives from each of the Towns within the Rondout Valley Central School District.
Although our work is far from compete, we have already reached an~obvious conclusion:~ the existing method of financing schools (a mixture of local property taxes, state aid and federal aid) can no longer support what is demanded of our school system without imposing heavy and often inequitable burdens on local property owners. Further, effective action to correct this~system can be taken only at the state level.
Senator John Bonacic and Assemblyman Joel Miller have introduced promising bills that would require the state to look to an alternative to the current heavy reliance on property taxes for financing education. Either of these bills would be a step forward; importantly, they recognize that only state action can address the current problem. We encourage debate on such efforts.
Our elected representatives in Albany need to hear the message that we expect them to act. You can help in a variety of ways: send a letter and postcard (which we’re told is the most effective), send an email, or make a telephone call. Attached is information to help you do this: A list of items that you can incorporate into a letter written by you. A sample letter that you can use. Preprinted postcards to the Governor and legislators are available at the offices of each of the Towns noted above, or sample text is available in the attachment. Contact information (including email addresses) for the state officials who are instrumental in getting legislation to the floor, and for several local newspapers in case you’re inspired to write a letter to the editor.
The Task Force hopes you will join us in bombarding Albany with demands for reform.
Sincerely,
Judith Gustafson
Chair
845/687-2435
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SUPPORT PROPERTY TAX REFORM BY COMMUNICATING
TO ALBANY OFFICIALS AND YOUR LOCAL NEWSPAPERS
Say at the beginning the action you want them to take – “reform school funding to a more equitable tax method than property taxes”— and include a personal story or comment to make your communication more effective.
OTHER ITEMS TO INCLUDE:
· New York State legislators Senator John Bonacic and Assemblyman Joel Miller have introduced tax reform bills (Bills S164 and A5600 respectively), which is an important first step. Action should be taken on them during this legislative session.~
· High property taxes is one of the biggest problems in our communities, especially for school funding. School taxes for the Rondout Valley Central School District in Ulster County have increased by 65% in the past six years. Other areas have a similar experience.
· Property taxes have increased at a rate higher than the cost of living, which is recently only slightly more than 2%.
· There are many problems in New York State government – late budgets, deficits, the highest taxation in the country – but school funding based on property taxes has become one of the greatest concerns of New York voters.~
· A large part of school funding problems is due to the drop in federal school aid, which decreased from 16% in the 1970s to 4% now. This pushes the tax burden from the federal government to the state to the localities. A 1% additional reduction for education is proposed in the 2006 federal budget.
· New York is #1 out of the fifty states in state and local taxes: by per capita at $4,645, or 48% above average; and by per $1,000 of personal income at $131, or 26% above average.
· Medicare costs for seniors went up 17% for 2005.~ This is on top of other rising costs for heating, gasoline, groceries and everyday necessities.
· Some longtime neighbors have given up their homes and moved to other places where they can afford to live because of the crushing burden of property taxes.
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SAMPLE LETTER
YOUR NAME
YOUR ADDRESS
YOUR CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE
April ____, 2005
The Hon. George E. Pataki
Governor of the State of New York
State Capitol
Albany NY 12224
Dear Governor Pataki:
I urge you to reform school funding to a more equitable method of taxation. I live in Ulster County and love it, but now I’m thinking about leaving New York altogether. The Hudson Valley is a beautiful area and there are lots of things to do now that I’m retired. But I’m living on a fixed income, and taxes here – especially property taxes to pay for schools – are eating my income away.
In my area, school taxes for the Rondout Valley Central School District have increased by 65% over the past six years. This is on top of all the other increased costs I have to pay for, including a 50% increase this year in homeowner’s insurance, 17% for Medicare costs, gasoline through the roof, and on and on.
Schools are important and a good education for our young people should be at the top of everyone’s agenda. Funding education through property taxes, however, is inequitable and should be changed. Senator John Bonacic and Assemblyman Joel Miller have introduced tax reform bills, which is an important first step. Action should be taken on these bills during this legislative session.~
I’m looking to you to push property tax reform in New York. I’d like to stay here.
Sincerely,
SAMPLE POSTCARDS
(requires a 23 cent postage stamp)
To Governor George Pataki
_________, 2005
Dear Governor Pataki:
I’m looking to you to push for property tax reform in New York. The current system is inequitable and a heavy burden on many property owners.
Unhappy taxpayers = unhappy voters.
Sincerely,
(your name)
(your address)
(your city, state, zip code)
To Senator John Bonacic, Assemblymen Joel Miller and Kevin Cahill
___________, 2005
Dear Legislator:
Property tax reform has become a priority concern for New Yorkers. We look to our elected officials in Albany~to find alternatives,
in particular, to the current reliance on property taxes to fund education. I believe effective action can be taken only at the state level,
and I appreciate your willingness to tackle the problem in the Legislature.
Sincerely,
(your name)
(your address)
(your city/state/zip)
REFORM LEGISLATION IN THE NEW YORK LEGISLATURE
Information about the~Legislature,~elected officials~in Albany, and the full text of legislation considered by the Assembly and the Senate is~on the New York State Government website~at www.state.ny.us .
WHO TO CONTACT TO SUPPORT~REFORM
Legislators who have reform bills before the NYS Legislature
Other officials
Senator Joseph Bruno, Majority Leader, at New York State Senate, 909 LOB, Albany NY 12247 (chair, Rules Committee), 518/455-3191, bruno@senate.state.ny.us
Senator Stephen H. Saland, Chair, Education Committee, at New York State Senate, 609 LOB, Albany NY 12247, 518/455-2411, saland@senate.state.ny.us
Senator Owen H. Johnson, Chair, Finance Committee, at New York State Senate, 913 LOB, Albany NY 12247, 518/455-3411, ojohnson@senate.state.ny.us
Assemblyman Sheldon Silver, Majority Leader, at New York State Assembly, 932 LOB, Albany NY 12248, 518/455-3791, speaker@assembly.state.ny.us
Assemblyman Charlie Nesbitt, Assembly Minority Leader, at New York State Assembly, 933 LOB, Albany NY 12248, 518/455-3751, nesbitc@assembly.state.ny.us
Assemblyman Kevin A. Cahill at Governor Clinton Bldg. Suite G-4, 1 Albany Avenue, Kingston NY 12401, 845/338-9610, cahillk@assembly.state.ny.us
Assemblyman Herman D. Farrell Jr., Chair, Ways and Means Committee, at New York State Assembly, 923 LOB, Albany NY 12248, 518/455-5491, farrelh@assembly.state.ny.us
Assemblyman Steven Sanders, Chair, Education Committee, New York State Assembly, 836 LOB, Albany NY 12248, 518/455-5506, sanders@assembly.state.ny.us
Assemblyman Brian Mclaughlin, Chair, Real Property Taxation Committee, New York State Assembly, 704 LOB, Albany NY 12248, 518/455-5772, mclaugb@assembly.state.ny.us
Mr. Thomas Griffen, Executive Director, Office of Real Property Services, at 16 Sheridan Avenue, Albany, NY 12210, 518/474-2982, nysops@orps.state.ny.us
LETTERS TO EDITORS
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