Albany's "Extraordinary Session"
by Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy
What makes today’s session in Albany ‘extraordinary’ is the extraordinary opportunity the Senate and Assembly majorities have to act in the best interest of taxpayers and businesses.
I urge state lawmakers to support the establishment of a school property tax cap that will provide relief to taxpayers; to adopt an Energize New York Program that will provide low-cost energy assistance to companies who qualify, and to oppose deferring scores of earned tax credits. Acting favorably on these three measures would really make today a ‘special’ session in Albany.
Establishing a Property Tax Cap
As I have said time and again, lasting, genuine relief for taxpayers is not going to come from additional borrowing and budget gimmickry that is so commonly the norm in Albany, but from long-term, fundamental reform in the shape of a property tax cap.
While the state flirted with the concept of a local cap in 2009, any reference to the cap was omitted from the 2010 budget. Conversely, Levy has governed under a cap and as a result introduced six consecutive budgets without a general fund tax increase and three capital budgets that reduced spending from the previous year.
‘Energize New York’ Power Program
Adoption of Energize New York is a signal to investors that the lights are on, and New York State wants your business. And that’s the kind of signal New York State needs to send loud and clear by swiftly providing low-cost power to businesses that qualify.
Deferring Earned Tax Credits is Bad Business for New York
Parents teach their children to keep a promise, but when it comes to economic development, the Senate and Assembly majorities are making it official State policy to break a promise made to businesses. Plainly stated, this is bad policy--bad for business and bad for the future of New York State’s economy.
I urge the Senate and Assembly majorities to see that what is at stake in today’s session is in fact ‘extraordinary’—an opportunity to set New York State on the right fiscal track moving forward and to do right by the taxpayers and businesses of New York State.
