Scarsdale Resident Leads Statewide Coalition to Fight Tax Cap

The debate over the tax cap and the impact it would have on local school districts rages on. Over 6,400 New York State residents have signed a petition directed at Governor Cuomo and other state lawmakers opposing the pending property tax cap legislation.

Among the issues the petition addresses; a provision that allows 40% of voters in a local school district to block their district’s proposed tax levy if it exceeds the 2% state-required cap. It also emphasizes the legislation’s failure to address rising costs affiliated to pension and health care contribution. Another point the petition makes is that the cap does not take into account expenses from rising enrollment which would impact schools.

Towns from across the state including Scarsdale, Edgemont, Chappaqua, Mamaroneck and Great Neck have formed the New York State Coalition for Local Control (NYSCLC) and in conjunction with the New York State PTA and are working to defeat this bill. Scarsdale resident, Arthur Rublin is the co-chairman of the NYSCLC.

The crux of the argument is that this legislation will not only damage suburban schools, but will also take away local control. Statements in the petition include; “This tax cap is financially irresponsible and stands to cause sustained damage to the efforts of recent years to advance education in this state. It speaks to a general sense of irresponsibility and total disregard for the right of towns and local communities to manage their own affairs and budget needs and the state not unlike the federal government has NO business dictating to the rights and needs of private citizens under some misplaced sense of fiscal responsibility.”

The petition warns Albany that if passed, this legislation will cause major fallout in the 2012 and 2014 election.

Meanwhile a recent poll shows Westchester voters favor local control for school budgets over a state imposition of a property tax cap. When given a choice between maintaining local control or passing a statewide cap, more than half of Westchester voters come down on the side of local control.

A majority of 51% (over 41%) favors “allowing voters and communities to retain full control over how much they spend on their schools” rather than “passing a statewide tax cap.” Only 41% favor passing a statewide tax cap.

The poll conducted by Kiley & Company, a Boston-based opinion research consulting firm, shows that the more respondents learn about the tax cap, the less inclined they are to support it, showing a 7% drop of support the more a voter learned how the legislation would effect the schools.

The poll, released by the NYSCLC, was conducted among 302 Westchester County voters from June 9 – 12, 2011, and has a margin of error of 5.8%.

To be sure, there are those in favor of the tax cap and for good reason. Businesses will benefit from a tax-cap and many say that will provide much needed jobs in our state. This should also benefit older residents, many of whom feel squeezed out of their homes due to rising property taxes, a point Governor Cuomo frequently makes on this issue.

But let’s be clear, this will not lower your taxes, just your services and give you less of a say on where your hard earned dollars are spent.

Jen Geller is a freelance journalist who has covered the economy and markets for over a decade at a major financial news outlet. She lives in Scarsdale with her husband and 2 children. Jen has yet to bake a successful batch of cookies.