Property tax cap must include mandate reform
ALBANY - Any property tax cap proposal in New York State must be accompanied by real reform to the state’s broken public service delivery system that requires county property taxpayers to fund Medicaid and a full array of State human service programs, according to the New York State Association of Counties.
NYSAC last week launched a campaign to raise awareness to the fact that county property tax levies are set in the state capitol, not in county legislative chambers.
Currently, nine state mandates consume 90 percent of the county property tax levy statewide. In some individual counties, the percentage of the tax levy is much greater than that. The mandated programs include: Medicaid, public assistance/safety net, child welfare, preschool special education, early intervention, indigent defense, probation, youth detention and pensions
“In Rockland County, Medicaid alone consumes more than 100 percent of the property tax levy,” said NYSAC Executive Director Stephen J. Acquario. “If we want to reduce property taxes - and we need to - then we must remove Medicaid from the property tax equation. Property taxpayers are footing the bill for the State’s decisions and programs and that must stop.”
In 2010, county property taxes collected statewide (outside of New York City) was approximately $4.4 billion. Nearly $4 billion of these taxes are dedicated to fund these state programs. Medicaid alone (outside of New York City) consumes more than $2 billion, or 45 percent, of the statewide county property tax levy.
The New York State Association of Counties is a bipartisan municipal association serving the counties of New York State including the City of New York. Organized in 1925, NYSAC’s mission is to represent, educate and advocate for member counties and the thousands of elected and appointed county officials who serve the public.
NYSAC last week launched a campaign to raise awareness to the fact that county property tax levies are set in the state capitol, not in county legislative chambers.
Currently, nine state mandates consume 90 percent of the county property tax levy statewide. In some individual counties, the percentage of the tax levy is much greater than that. The mandated programs include: Medicaid, public assistance/safety net, child welfare, preschool special education, early intervention, indigent defense, probation, youth detention and pensions
“In Rockland County, Medicaid alone consumes more than 100 percent of the property tax levy,” said NYSAC Executive Director Stephen J. Acquario. “If we want to reduce property taxes - and we need to - then we must remove Medicaid from the property tax equation. Property taxpayers are footing the bill for the State’s decisions and programs and that must stop.”
In 2010, county property taxes collected statewide (outside of New York City) was approximately $4.4 billion. Nearly $4 billion of these taxes are dedicated to fund these state programs. Medicaid alone (outside of New York City) consumes more than $2 billion, or 45 percent, of the statewide county property tax levy.
The New York State Association of Counties is a bipartisan municipal association serving the counties of New York State including the City of New York. Organized in 1925, NYSAC’s mission is to represent, educate and advocate for member counties and the thousands of elected and appointed county officials who serve the public.
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