Senator Parker Calls For A Better Solution On Property Tax Relief

SENATOR PARKER’S “CIRCUIT BREAKER” SOLUTION WOULD PROTECT CITIZENS AND PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING

Brooklyn, NY August 4, 2008 - - State Senator Kevin Parker imposes relief on property taxes on the citizens of New York and situates funding for the public education system.  In an effort to reduce the enormous burden of some of the highest property taxes in New York, Sen. Parker proposes the expansion of the “circuit breaker” approach, which is recommended by the New York State Commission on Property Tax Relief.

 “High property taxes have a crippling effect on taxpayers and on our community,” said Senator Parker.  A sound and basic education is the foundation of our state’s future economic prosperity.  We must keep faith with our next generation of workers, thinkers, and taxpayers, even as we find ways to mitigate any short-term budgetary shortfalls.”

Senator Parker supports Governor Paterson in addressing the crisis of high property taxes, however opposes the “property tax cap plan” as it currently stands.  The proposed tax cap plans currently calls for a 4% cap on school property taxes, although New York State Court of Appeals ruled in 2006 that New York City possesses the largest inequalities in per-pupil spending in the country, stated in a letter that Sen. Parker authored to the Governor.

The Senator’s support of an expanded “circuit breaker” approach would establish a maximum percentage of income that a household would be required to pay in property taxes.   Such an expansion would shift the share of educational spending from local municipalities to the State, thereby ensuring equality in educational funding.   In addition, this plan would also relieve homeowners as they struggle during these difficult economic times.

About Senator Kevin Parker

Senator Kevin S. Parker is committed to restoring the overall quality of life for the constituents of the 21st Senatorial District in Brooklyn.  A lifelong Brooklyn resident, Senator Parker has been a Flatbush resident for more than 27 years.  Having been nurtured, schooled and employed in the district, Senator Parker is intimately familiar with the needs of this ethnically diverse community that consists of 311,000 constituents in several communities which include:  Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood, Ditmas Park, Kensington and Borough Park.