Suozzi Highlights Need for Property Tax Reduction
Suozzi Highlights Need for Property Tax Reduction
Proposes Increased State Funding and End to Inequities in State Education Aid
Democratic candidate for Governor Tom Suozzi today spoke at the New York State School Boards Association Legislative Conference. Focusing on one of the major issues of his campaign, Suozzi once again called for a reduction of property taxes and increased State funding for public schools.
"Property taxes are unsustainable and New Yorkers are fed up. Albany is not funding our schools fairly or properly, and look what we're left with: the highest local taxes in the nation and underfunded and underperforming schools in low-income areas. We cannot keep paying for this mismanagement with ever-increasing property taxes. I am making property taxes the number one issue in this year's campaign and I encourage any candidate sincerely interested in fixing Albany to do the same," said Suozzi.
In New York, the State government pays for 37% of total education spending. The national average is 57%, and New York's local taxpayers make up for the shortfall by paying the highest local taxes in the nation72% above the national average. At the same time, the lack of support from Albany has created an inequitable funding scheme that disproportionately hurts children in schools in low-income areas in New York City and across the State.
In 2004, Tom Suozzi founded FixAlbany.com, a movement to bring accountability to the State Legislature and reduce property taxes by fighting against unfunded mandates. He successfully led the effort to implement a local spending cap on Medicaid, saving taxpayers across the State billions of dollars.
As Nassau County Executive, Suozzi has launched an unprecedented coordinated property tax reduction campaign with the 56 school districts of Nassau County. This collaborative effort addresses the structural problems stemming from the dysfunction in Albany and which adversely affect local communities across Long Island.
This is the second year that County Executive Suozzi has been invited to address the New York State School Boards Association Legislative Conference.
http://tomsuozzi.com/announcements/Proptax_030606/