Senator Fuschillo, Fellow Senators & Long Island Homeowners Call on Assembly to Pass Property Tax Cap

            Senator Fuschillo (left) listens as Long Island homeowner Joanne Curley (center) states why her family needs a property tax cap after seeing her taxes rise by over 16% in the last three years. Mrs. Curley joined Senator Fuschillo in calling for passage of the property tax cap. They are joined by (l-r) Senators Carl Marcellino, Ken LaValle, John Flanagan, Lee Zeldin, Dean Skelos, and Jack Martins.

Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. (R-Merrick) today joined with his fellow Long Island Senators and two Long Island homeowners in calling on the State Assembly to act on property tax cap legislation that passed the Senate earlier this year.             

“Long Islanders are sick and tired of paying some of the highest property taxes in the country; tax relief is their number one priority,” said Senator Fuschillo. “High taxes are making Long Island more and more unaffordable and driving people away. We need a property tax cap to control spending, control taxes, and make Long Island more affordable for homeowners and businesses. The Assembly should join the Senate in passing the property tax cap.”   

            The property tax cap legislation was approved by the State Senate on January 31^st with broad bi-partisan support. Governor Cuomo also supports the property tax cap legislation and has been traveling around the state, including to Long Island, advocating for its passage. However, the Assembly has not yet taken action. 

Bayport residents Richard and Joanne Curley joined the Senators in calling for passage of the property tax cap.  In the last three years, the Curley’s property taxes have increased to $11,033, a 16.2 percent increase. The three-year increase in the Curley’s property taxes totaled $1,591.  If the property tax cap passed by the Senate had been in place, the increase would have been limited to $343. 

“The increases we’ve seen in property taxes are out of control.  My family is wondering when it will stop,” Joanne Curley said. 

New York’s state and local tax burden is the second highest in the country, according to The Tax Foundation, a nonprofit research organization. 12.1 percent of New Yorkers’ income goes towards paying state and local taxes, far above the national average of 9.8 percent. New York missed having the highest state and local tax burden by just .1 percent. 

Over 18,000 residents have signed a “pass the tax cap” petition in support of the property tax cap. Residents who would like to sign the petition can do so by clicking here.

                                                                    ####