| Carney Proposes Switch from Property to Income Tax for Schools
Just a day before the school budget votes statewide, candidate Tim Carney released his plan to switch up how New Yorkers pay for public education. The gist of the idea is to stop using property taxes to pay for schools and instead do something similar to what is done in some other states: an income tax.
Here's the relevant portions of Carney's press release on the subject (which, by the way, finally conforms to actual press release format):
CARNEY OFFERS REAL SCHOOL TAX REFORM
Carney Proposes to Eliminate School Taxes for
Homeowners and Seniors to Save the Public School System!
May 17, 2010 - Albany - Tim Carney, candidate for New York State Senate (D - 46th Senate District, Albany County), today issued a list of solutions designed to solve the crisis facing New York State's public school system and homeowners paying skyrocketing property taxes.
"Tomorrow we have to vote on school budgets all across Albany County as our homeowners and seniors are growing increasingly scared of the future," Carney said. "Most homeowners are facing a shaky financial future and the budget chaos at the state Capitol is not helping their ability to pay their mortgage and property taxes."
Upon being sworn in to the State Senate, Carney would propose a measure to institute an income-based school tax would be collected in a similar fashion to the NYS income tax. Employees would have approximately one percent of their weekly paycheck allocated to pay for the school tax.
This method would result in:
· seniors not paying school taxes;
· homeowners saving as much as $600 every month;
· creating a larger pool of funds to afford skyrocketing education costs; and
· a booming residential real estate industry being created as more people could afford to make their mortgage payments by not having monthly school taxes.
Currently New York's school taxes are based on the value that the local assessor applies to your home. Then the local school system proposes a budget for voters to approve to run the schools for the next year. The amount is then divided up equally between all commercial property, vacant land and residential properties in that area. Some homeowners could qualify for as much as a 45 percent reduction of the full value property assessment for the STAR school tax assessment.
Currently there are five states that have an income-based school tax collection system and several more are considering it. In Ohio they had a school tax collection system similar to New York's and they changed to an income based system in which they have had great success.
For the past four months Carney has been on a 'listening tour' of Albany County. He attended all town and village board meetings as well as council meetings in the three cities in Albany County as he met with residents attending these meetings.
"The biggest problem I heard from residents across the county was the gut-wrenching choice these hard-working middle-aged folks have to make between sending their children to good schools and how much they can afford to pay for them," Carney said. "Senior homeowners are finding it difficult to maintain paying the taxes on their homes in the aftermath of the elimination of the STAR rebate program."
Carney has extensive knowledge in the Real Estate Property Valuation. He studied banking, insurance and real estate in college and served as a real estate broker/appraiser. He also worked as the Property Manager for the Albany Community Development Agency where he bought and sold properties for the Housing and Urban Development Corporation. More details are going to be available on www.TimCarneyForSenate.com
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There wasn't much press on the proposal, but the Times Union's Local Politcs blog kept us up to date. It also gave Senator Breslin the opportunity to respond:
"Seniors and middle-class property owners need tax relief, not typical gimmicks which have become a dime a dozen at the Capitol. I am advocating a progressive, targeted, and affordable model, which is supported by holding Wall Street CEO's accountable - after taxpayers kept their offices open. It is now time to help families remain in their homes. I am hopeful those who share my commitment to a fairer tax code will join me in finally getting the Governor and others on board with a comprehensive plan that works."
- Senator Neil Breslin, May 17th
I don't read anything in Breslin's response that actually relates to school taxes. I don't see what school taxes have to do with Wall Street CEOs. And I don't see the "progressive, targeted, and affordable" model Mr. Breslin speaks of on his sponsored legislation page. Plenty of "J" bills memorializing and commemorating well-respected community members, though...what a nice guy! Hey Neil...how's that budget coming along?
With respect to Carney's proposal, I don't know if it will work, but at least it's an idea. The move was well-timed to coincide with the budget votes and was politically targeted at seniors, both wise moves. Do you think Carney's proposal will work? Comment away.
Martland Says Breslin Endorsement "Politics As Usual"
And by the way, he's right. Again, TU Local Politics had the scoop and then some, and a bit of back-story will update newcomers to this race on what a complete political about-face this is for the Albany County Democratic Party.
Still, a blunt synopsis might expedite your understanding. First, the candidate review committee recommended no endorsement. Then, the Breslin family got mad. Then, the political big wigs overturned the non-endorsement and quickly declared their support for the incumbent, who is the brother of the County Executive and County Judge. Very predictable, and worthy of Martland's description.
Here's some of the responses from both candidates. Martland first, from his May 20th press release:
"After 14 years in office and with his brother as county executive, it is no surprise that the Breslin political machine could intimidate any person who would have the temerity to oppose his nomination," said Martland. "The September primary is a secret ballot, and we will see how many people support him then."
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"Neil Breslin voted to furlough 100,000 public employees and voted to cut $1.4 billion in school aid," adds Martland. "His votes and do-nothing leadership are hurting the working men, women and small businesses of Albany County. Our economy is hurting, the Senate can't pass a budget and Neil Breslin does nothing. He is paid $100,000 a year and the Senate only works three days a week. It is time for a change."
From the Local Politics report, we also have some notes from Tim Carney:
Carney, an Albany resident who is also challenging Breslin, said he went into the meeting not expecting a nomination or the endorsement but said he still remains confident he can win a three-way race and will even solicit the support of the Tea Party movement.
"I understand. Pack mentality," Carney said. "I'm on the outside trying to pick off one of them."
"Quite frankly," he added, saying the race breaks down to a competition between an unpopular incumbent in Breslin and a virtual unknown in Martland, "I think I can capture a third of the vote."
We'll consider the flawed number-crunching and perhaps some other interesting statements Mr. Carney made to me via e-mail during the second half of May at a later date. For now, all you really need to know comes from this observation by TU journalist and blogger Jordan Carleo-Evangelist:
Now, Martland's campaign will likely argue that its support is much broader than last night's vote indicated because asking a Democrat to buck an incumbent from an influential family in front of several hundred of his or her contemporaries is, well, asking a lot in Albany County.
That's the way things work in Albany County. Hopefully 2010 will be the last year it's like that.
Republicans Enter the Fold, Can't Decide on Challenger Quite Yet
In other, more recent news, this print article in the May 25th issue of the Times Union clued us in to what I've been saying all along: that the Republican Party is preparing to actually field a challenger to Breslin this year, hoping that widespread anti-incumbent attitude of 2010 can break the 2 to 1 enrollment advantage we Democrats have in Albany County.
Republican Michael Carey is the star of the article, and his work with legislators in passing Jonathan's Law, named for his deceased autistic son. But other names are mentioned as well: former County Republican Committee Chairman John A. Graziano is also mentioned in the piece as is local GOP activist Joseph Vitolo. But the article concludes that a GOP primary doesn't seem likely. Instead, they are strategizing more along the lines of a unified opposition, counting on a divisive Democratic primary to do their work for them. A revealing observation:
While seeking to run against a popular Democratic incumbent, Sen. Neil Breslin, Carey said he didn't plan a negative campaign or expect to employ the harsh throw-the-bums-out theme that many challengers are expected to adopt this year.
"The walls of hostility must come down. ... I don't look at different sides as the enemy," said Carey, a registered Republican who is seeking the GOP as well as Conservative and Independence party lines.
Will a unified GOP front emerge to take advantage of the Democratic primary? The month of May left us with clues that may lead to a positive response, and the month of June will likely give us a final answer.
Martland Opens Campaign Offices
With the month of May out of the way, I can finally get back to reporting what's just happened. Luckily, I've got material for this one. Yesterday, Luke Martland opened his official campaign offices in the Town of Guilderland just a few miles out of the city of Albany. So far, no press on this one, but then, there are more important things going on I suppose.
I was able to stop by to check out the location just before tapping out this blog, but nobody was there. But from the looks of things, the Martland campaign is optimistic about bodies filling a decent amount of space, especially in the run up to the June 8th flag coming down on the race for nominating petition signatures.
Otherwise, the only other news from Martland campaign has to do with our new gubernatorial candidate, Andrew Cuomo. In a May 17th press release, he included a chart comparing himself, his opponent, and the Attorney General.
Unfortunately, with only five minutes to go here at the public library, I haven't got the time to format it. That's going to have to go to copying, pasting, posting, and saying ta-ta for now, tune in for next time, and keep up the good work! |
