SD-38: Greg Julian challenges Tom Morahan to break with Bruno on property taxes

Better solutions than caps (0.00 / 0)

This is foolish for two reasons:
1. Tax caps are very risky. You all know that the tax cap ruined CA K-12 schools. (Some confuse CA's higher ed system with K-12. Not the same at all. Yes CA's higher ed is among, if not, the best in the country. And it's properly funded.)In CA families have to pay for music,art and even science instruction.  MA has a lot of hype about success of its cap, but at the end of the day the wealthy districts do fine b/c their constituents vote to exceed the cap. Middle-class areas are apparently not doing as well. Poor districts get more state aid. Most important: until now MA's cap was accompanied by huge infusions of state funding: mostly the cap has been in effect during a time of relative prosperity. When the economy tanks, the localities can't get anything. The poorest districts will suffer, and teachers will not make a living wage. (Again why teach in a low-paying, low-income district when the rich district votes to exceed the cap?) Yes, NYSUT's grip on Albany is too tight. But teachers deserve a living wage.    

2. Greg Julian is aiding and abetting the Senate's propensity to tax the middle class and spare the wealthy. A cap is flat and doesn't address unfairness of property taxes.  The circuit breaker, which is what Julian should be challenging Morahan on is much more promising. It cuts taxes for those whose gross adjusted income is less than $250k. A cap is easy for the Senate to say yes to. You think they'll call for something that doesn't give the wealthy a break? The Galef-Little circuit breaker rectifies the gap between income and property tax. It needs some tweaking apparently. WFP backs it.

Also needed: stricter audits of school districts so they can operate more efficiently, i.e., cut bloated administrations,  partner with other districts on purchasing and in many other areas, and district consolidation where feasible.
This is what Mr. Julian should be calling for.

Any cap should be defined as "a Massachusetts-style cap with the commensurate state funding," and should have a sunset clause. Tying the cap to the CPI--not great. Much better gauges.

Any econ 101 course will explain why a cap alone can not work. Apparently most respected education economists  support lowering school taxes--yet agree that caps by themselves are dangerous.  

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by: LOBlue @ Sun Jun 22, 2008 at 21:07:46 PM UTC

I share your concerns (0.00 / 0)

While this may be politically smart to raise against Republican senators, and while it is a serious problem, we need to think this issue through.

I don't want to undermine any effort to take these guys out, but in my opinion it is NOT progressive to call for a tax cap.

 

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by: justthinking @ Mon Jun 23, 2008 at 01:21:30 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Agreed (0.00 / 0)

I don't understand how calling for a tax cap has become a progressive rallying cry this year.  Without a circuit breaker and/or alternative funding sources for schools, a tax cap seems to be rather contrary to progressive ideals in my estimation.  

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by: Klugstah @ Mon Jun 23, 2008 at 02:06:59 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

A cap and circuit breaker aren't mutually exclusive. (0.00 / 0)

The Suozzi Commission report makes it clear that there is a need to do more than just a cap, however, it emphatically makes the case for doing a cap first to avoid the potentially devastating State fiscal implications that would ensue from adoption of an enhanced (Little/Galef style) circuit breaker program in the absence of a cap.

We're clearly way overdue for measures that will actually force some type of hunt for economies/efficiencies in all of our 4,200 or so autonomous local taxing jurisdictions.  That need is especially acute in our school districts, which continue to consume the lion's share of property tax revenue in NY.  The tax cap is one such measure, and as currently proposed by the Governor there are plenty of safety valves included that allow for the cap to be exceeded in certain circumstances and/or via local taxpayer choice.  

Don't forget that a school tax cap isn't a school tax cut, rather it's simply an attempt to force schools to keep their property tax increases at a reasonable level.  To me, the cap seems like the very least that our State legislators can do if they care about the growing tax burden their constituents are shouldering.

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by: teaparty2 @ Mon Jun 23, 2008 at 04:38:32 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

A Good Start (0.00 / 0)

This is not quite as foolish as one would think.  

Yes the tax cap is risky, but all legislative proposals carry some risk if they are not implemented with out safeguards or monitored.

The tax cap can help the state to get the property tax under control and assist in dealing with the problem today.  To quote FDR, "People don't eat in the long run, they eat every day."  In the spirit of a true democrat, Julian is calling for a solution to alleviate immediate suffering of those affected by the property tax.  Besides, it is obvious that an increase in state aid for local education systems would follow shortly after the cap is implemented.  However, one can be sure that the band-aid approach of the cap would not be the only legislative action on the part of the Democrats.

As a former student of Greg Julian, I can attest to the fact that this man is an individual who wants to raise the level of debate.  He has a great respect for teachers and the public education system in NYS.  He is an individual who is also concerned with the a quality education for all students.  He believes in an even playing field among all members of the district.  He is also a person who has constantly stated that in order for struggling communities to grow and have a renaissance, education must be reformed and funded first.  He believes that schools should be shrines to learning.

I can also comment on the fact that the tax system in NY is broken and needs to be completely overhauled.  This proposal needs to go to the floor for debate in the very least to raise some of the major points that were mentioned in this forum.

So you are right LOBlue to believe that this is an issue of some concern if the cap were to be used alone in addressing the needs of NYS.  However, people need aid and they need it now.  Let us hope that this debate between both individuals will only cause politicians to put the good of the constituent above all else.  Then the constituent can decided to either embrace an act of immediate relief or hold fast to an idea of aid from above and hope for the best.    

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by: NYDEM @ Mon Jun 23, 2008 at 21:17:09 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Amen. The cap can totally backfire (0.00 / 0)

I was disappointed in Smith calling for a 2 percent cap. The poor kids upstate and in the burbs get screwed. Circuit breaker can be messaged so voters will prefer it.  Tax Cap vs Tax Cut (circuit breaker). Is there some way to get through to Smith?  Greg Julian's a bright guy who should not only rethink this but who could transform this into a discussion of what will work and what is right.  

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by: LOBlue @ Mon Jun 23, 2008 at 03:02:13 AM UTC

More about Circuit Breakers (0.00 / 0)

Find out how it works:

http://workingfamiliesparty.or...  

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by: DanLevitanWFP @ Mon Jun 23, 2008 at 14:33:09 PM UTC