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Irondequoit, N.Y. —
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo traveled to Irondequoit this morning (July 6) to sign New York's first property tax cap legislation.
He called the tax cap the "crown jewel" of his first six months in office, noting, "If there's one problem plaguing people in this state, it's property taxes ... We pay the highest property taxes in the U.S., and they've gone up 73 percent over the past decade ... Today, the madness stops."
The tax cap, a hallmark of Governor Cuomo's campaign and a priority of his administration's first year, is expected to deliver relief to millions of homeowners and business owners across the state.
Governor Cuomo signed the property tax cap at the home of Mike and Amanda Ostrander, on Glenmont Drive in Irondequoit.
"This is a home behind me," Cuomo said during his brief remarks. "It's not an ATM machine for government."
Like many taxpayers in Monroe County, the Ostranders, parents of two young children, have watched as their property taxes soared. They pay nearly $5,000 annually in property taxes on their modest, 1951 home, which they purchased about four years ago from the original owners.
"Hopefully, over the long term, this (tax cap legislation) will help us save on property taxes," Mike Ostrander said. "We've only lived here four years, but they've grown pretty consistently. From 2008 to 2009, we saw a $400 jump. Hopefully, this (legislation) will slow that growth and give us a measure of predictability."
The Ostranders said getting ready for the Governor's visit was "a bit of a whirlwind," but they were happy to host today's event.
"I did a lot of yard work," Mike Ostrander, an attorney with the Woods Oviatt Gilman firm in Rochester, said with a smile. "But, how often to you get to have the Governor at your house?"
Cuomo arrived about 11:10 a.m. First, there was an about 20-minute program, culminating with the signing of the tax cap legislation on the Ostanders' front lawn.
Lt. Governor Bob Duffy spoke first, followed by Assemblyman Joe Morelle, D, Irondequoit, state Senator Jim Alesi, R, Perinton, whose district includes Irondequoit, and Cuomo.
Other state officials on hand included Assemblyman Mark Johns, R, Webster; state Senator Joe Robach, R, Greece; and Assemblyman Harry Bronson.
Irondequoit Supervisor Mary Joyce D'Aurizio also attended the event.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo traveled to Irondequoit this morning (July 6) to sign New York's first property tax cap legislation.
He called the tax cap the "crown jewel" of his first six months in office, noting, "If there's one problem plaguing people in this state, it's property taxes ... We pay the highest property taxes in the U.S., and they've gone up 73 percent over the past decade ... Today, the madness stops."
The tax cap, a hallmark of Governor Cuomo's campaign and a priority of his administration's first year, is expected to deliver relief to millions of homeowners and business owners across the state.
Governor Cuomo signed the property tax cap at the home of Mike and Amanda Ostrander, on Glenmont Drive in Irondequoit.
"This is a home behind me," Cuomo said during his brief remarks. "It's not an ATM machine for government."
Like many taxpayers in Monroe County, the Ostranders, parents of two young children, have watched as their property taxes soared. They pay nearly $5,000 annually in property taxes on their modest, 1951 home, which they purchased about four years ago from the original owners.
"Hopefully, over the long term, this (tax cap legislation) will help us save on property taxes," Mike Ostrander said. "We've only lived here four years, but they've grown pretty consistently. From 2008 to 2009, we saw a $400 jump. Hopefully, this (legislation) will slow that growth and give us a measure of predictability."
The Ostranders said getting ready for the Governor's visit was "a bit of a whirlwind," but they were happy to host today's event.
"I did a lot of yard work," Mike Ostrander, an attorney with the Woods Oviatt Gilman firm in Rochester, said with a smile. "But, how often to you get to have the Governor at your house?"
Cuomo arrived about 11:10 a.m. First, there was an about 20-minute program, culminating with the signing of the tax cap legislation on the Ostanders' front lawn.
Lt. Governor Bob Duffy spoke first, followed by Assemblyman Joe Morelle, D, Irondequoit, state Senator Jim Alesi, R, Perinton, whose district includes Irondequoit, and Cuomo.
Other state officials on hand included Assemblyman Mark Johns, R, Webster; state Senator Joe Robach, R, Greece; and Assemblyman Harry Bronson.
Irondequoit Supervisor Mary Joyce D'Aurizio also attended the event.
"This is extremely significant that he (Cuomo) is here," D'Aurizio said. "We (Irondequoit) do hold the distinctiion of having the highest taxes in the county ... but, I don't believe we can be compared with others towns. We're densely populated in a small area and have don't have much room for growth."
Duffy said the tax cap is "a critical first step" in jump-starting the economy in New York.
"This is a governor who means what he says and says what he means," Morelle said. "It's refreshing to have a real leader for our time."
Alesi, who introduced Cuomo, said the Governor has helped to turn the "havoc" in Albany around.
"Families like the Ostranders in Monroe County and across the state have dealt with overwhelming property taxes for far too long," Governor Cuomo said. "This cap brings much-needed relief from the crushing tax burden that has hindered businesses and driven families out of New York. It will help revitalize the state's economy and send a message to the rest of the country that New York is no longer the tax capital of the nation."
Taxpayers in Monroe County, like the Ostranders, pay among the highest property taxes in the nation, with a median property tax bill of 3,585 per household. Based on 2009 census data, Monroe County residents pay property taxes equal to 2.89 percent of the value of their home, some of the highest in the nation. In comparison, the median U.S. property tax bill is $1,917, while in New York the median property tax bill is $3,755.
Under the new law, property tax increases will be capped at 2 percent or the rate of inflation, whichever is less. Local communities and local voters could override the cap with a 60 percent vote on the budget for school boards or relevant legislative bodies.
"I commend Governor Cuomo for his strong leadership and political courage to lower to the cost of homeownership for hardworking, overburdened taxpayers," Alesi said. "Through his perseverance and cooperative approach, Governor Cuomo has produced tax relief that the vast majority of homeowners have been hoping for."
"Here in Monroe County," Morelle added, "where we have the highest property taxes in the country, and all across New York, this will be remembered as the moment when we took decisive action to halt the Empire State's decline."
The cap on property taxes includes safeguards to ensure delivery of critical services for New Yorkers. There will be limited exceptions to the cap, including certain growth in pension costs.
