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Hawley critical of Cuomo's property tax plan

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) today criticized Gov. Cuomo’s proposed property-tax relief plan as having little concrete backing and not addressing the root cause of unfunded mandates. Hawley also said that the plan is simply a temporary fix and does not address the oppressive tax structure in New York State.  

“Gov. Cuomo’s proposal is a convenient way to avoid addressing the root cause of high property and school taxes: unfunded mandates,” Hawley said. “I agree that tax cuts should be a focus during this year’s budgetary process, but Gov. Cuomo’s proposal does not address the rigorous and oppressive tax structure in New York State. Furthermore, this proposal is based on a surplus that does not yet exist and apparently could only exist if the legislature made several billion in cuts over the next few years. A better solution for tax relief would be broad-based tax cuts for all New Yorkers and not just select groups, as Gov. Cuomo has done.”

Hawley’s comments come after Gov. Cuomo released a $1.7 billion property-tax credit proposal that will be included in his budget presentation next week. Hawley has fought for lower taxes and more fiscal responsibility in Albany during his tenure in the legislature.

Mark Potwora

I like this quote.....A better solution for tax relief would be broad-based tax cuts for all New Yorkers and not just select groups, as Gov. Cuomo has done.”...By select groups does he mean all these IDA's who hand out tax breaks to multi million dollar companies which he agree with..

Jan 16, 2015, 7:32pm Permalink
Brian Graz

I don't understand the continuing mentality of too many of the GOP legislators, to think [hope] that Gov Cuomo is going to come around to their positions... and/or that bi-partisan maneuvering is going to accomplish anything for upstate.

Mark is right... if government sponsored Economic Development was eliminated and put back on the private sector [where it belongs], how much could taxes be lowered.

Now that the GOP has majority control of the Senate, let's see if they step up and grow some stones, and shut down the Governor and his liberal/progressive downstate stranglehold on upstate NY. If the SAFE Act is not repealed, unfunded mandates not removed, then the GOP Senate MUST NOT PASS the Budget!!!

Jan 18, 2015, 6:51pm Permalink
Dave Olsen

It's been shown time and time again that both feed at the same trough. Meaningful changes will never happen until the two party system stranglehold is released.

Jan 19, 2015, 8:30am Permalink

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