Bonacic: Seeking' to bring real relief to the taxpayers'

With the recent changes to federal tax laws, there has been a renewed focus on the impact of high property taxes in New York. We need to address this issue in three ways: making the tax cap permanent; reconsidering how we fund education and provide mandate relief; and tackling out-of-control tax exemptions and abuses.
The New York State Senate has again passed legislation to make the tax cap permanent, which has to date saved taxpayers $23 billion statewide. This bill passed overwhelmingly in 2015, 2016, and 2017 but has not been brought for a vote on the floor of the Assembly.
However, simply capping the rate of growth of property taxes is not enough – we must reduce the main driver of our high property taxes – school taxes.
That is why I have reintroduced legislation to allow school districts, at voter option, to phase out school property taxes on primary residences over five years and replace the lost revenue with increased state aid. This legislation has also previously passed the Senate and died in the Assembly.
Finally, we need to address the issue of out-of-control property tax exemptions. Based on year 2013 assessment rolls, $826 billion in property value, nearly one-third of the value of all the property in New York, is exempt from taxation.
In order to reform these property tax exemptions, I have long fought for a package of bills to reign in the abuses in the system.
I look forward to working this session to bring real relief to the taxpayers of New York.
Sen. John J. Bonacic
Senate District 42