Long Island Senators Press Assembly to Pass Property Tax Cap

18,000 Taxpayers Sign Senate GOP Tax Cap Petition

Long Island’s Republican State Senators held a news conference today to pressure the State Assembly into acting on property tax cap legislation that passed the Senate earlier this year. More than 18,000 taxpayers have signed Senate Republicans’ PassTheTaxCap.Com petition urging the Assembly to join the Senate and pass the Governor’s property tax cap bill.

“Passing the Governor’s hard property tax cap bill was one of the first things the Senate did this year and, unfortunately, the bill has languished in the Assembly,” Senate Majority Leader Dean G. Skelos said.

“The Speaker of the Assembly has made it clear that acting on the Governor’s property tax cap bill in not a priority in his house. Well it is the top priority for Senate Republicans and it’s a priority in thousands of homes on Long Island where taxpayers are desperate for relief.”

The Long Island Senators were joined today by Bayport residents Richard and Joanne Curley. 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 $,1591. 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.

“This isn’t a Republican or Democrat issue, it’s a New York State issue,” Senator Lee Zeldin (R-C-I, Shirley) said. “As we fight our way out of the worst economic recession since the Great Depression, my constituents want us to put our differences aside and work together to make Long Island and New York State a more affordable place to live.”

Governor Cuomo, in an event this week at Hofstra University, reiterated his support of his two percent property tax cap legislation (S.2706).

“The strict property tax cap is supported by 80 percent of New Yorkers and virtually every business organization in the state because they know it will result in finally putting the brakes on massive property tax increases,” Senator Skelos said. “However, we need the Assembly to join us in acting on the bill for it to become law. It’s time for the Assembly to stop focusing on ways to water down the tax cap and put it up for a vote.”

Senator Skelos and Senator Zeldin were joined at the news conference by Senator John Flanagan (R-C-I, East Northport),Senator Charles Fuschillo (R, Merrick), Senator Owen Johnson (R-C, Babylon), Senator Kenneth LaValle (R-C-I, Port Jefferson), Senator Carl Marcellino (R, Syosset) and Senator Jack Martins (R-C-I, Mineola).