![Senator Headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/4_3_small/public/02-10-15_official_hs_omara-hs-040_0.jpg?itok=gJ9N77KJ)
O’Mara, Senate Majority colleagues propose ‘Affordability Agenda’ to combat high taxes
January 9, 2018
![The Senate’s focus in 2018, beginning today, is to make this state more affordable and that begins with lower taxes,” Senator O’Mara said.](/sites/default/files/styles/760x377/public/article/main-image/affordabilityagenda-newweb.png?itok=WK2EPQua)
Albany, N.Y., January 9—State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C,I-Big Flats) and his Senate Majority colleagues today proposed a broad-based “Affordability Agenda” aimed at reducing New York State’s high tax burden.
“Governor Cuomo began his tenure back in 2011 by stating that New York State cannot survive as the tax capital of America. I agreed one-hundred percent but seven years down the road, we still have not done enough to get our residents and businesses out from under one of the nation’s heaviest tax burdens. The Senate’s focus in 2018, beginning today, is to make this state more affordable and that starts with lower taxes,” O’Mara said.
Later today, the Senate will act on two pieces of legislation that O’Mara co-sponsors and that are central to the Senate’s “Affordability Agenda.” One measure (S1207) would make permanent the two-percent cap on local property tax increases established in 2011. A second proposal calls for establishing a permanent two-percent cap on annual growth in state government spending (S365).
Overall, the Affordability Agenda unveiled today focuses on broad-based tax relief. It includes:
> lower income taxes;
> lower property taxes, including a 25-percent increase in the size of current property tax rebate payments, freezing school property taxes at current levels for senior citizens, and phasing in the elimination of school property taxes for seniors over the next decade;
> lower energy taxes, including the elimination of the two-percent Gross Receipts Tax on utility bills;
> lower taxes on retirement, including doubling the current exemption on pension income and saving seniors an additional $275 million;
> reforms to control state spending, including a permanent state spending cap, and preventing future tax increases; and
> significantly reducing existing unfunded mandates on local governments and amending the State Constitution to ban any future unfunded mandates.
O’Mara said that the Senate Majority has been responsible for the enactment of 85 tax cuts over the past seven years. This includes the lowest middle-class tax rates since 1948, the lowest manufacturing rates since 1917, the lowest corporate rates since 1968, and a local property tax cap for homeowners.
For more information on the Senate's Affordability Agenda, click HERE.
Share this Article or Press Release
Newsroom
Go to Newsroom!["These assignments place my focus squarely at the center of several of the most challenging and critical debates over the future direction of our state," said Senator O'Mara. "These assignments place my focus squarely at the center of several of the most challenging and critical debates over the future direction of our state," said Senator O'Mara.](/sites/default/files/styles/760x377/public/article/main-image/session-candid_3.jpeg?itok=HOGk6TVA)
!["We need to make it clear that these illegal sticker stores cannot operate and that there are criminal and civil consequences for any owners who continue to do so,” the lawmakers said. "We need to make it clear that these illegal sticker stores cannot operate and that there are criminal and civil consequences for any owners who continue to do so,” the lawmakers said.](/sites/default/files/styles/760x377/public/article/main-image/stickerstores-candid1.jpg?itok=PcL2zwwM)
!["New York State remains one of America’s highest-taxed, least affordable, most debt-ridden and overregulated states, and we’re leading the nation in population loss to top it off. It’s mind-boggling how Governor Hochul and top legislative Democrats can keep boasting about higher and higher state government spending," said Senator O'Mara. New York State remains one of America’s highest-taxed, least affordable, most debt-ridden and overregulated states, and we’re leading the nation in population loss to top it off. It’s mind-boggling how Governor Hochul and top legislative Democrats can keep boasting about higher and higher state government spending.](/sites/default/files/styles/760x377/public/article/main-image/affordability-candid_1.jpg?itok=4YK7725o)