At N. Merrick senior center, Cuomo calls for tax cap

New York State Attorney General and gubernatorial hopeful Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, stopped off at the Jewel Quinn Senior Center in North Merrick on July 27 with Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano, a Republican, to tout a statewide property-tax cap.

The cap proposed by Cuomo as part of his New NY Agenda would limit property-tax increases to 2 percent annually or the rate of inflation, whichever is lower. According to the plan, property taxes could be raised above 2 percent if 60 percent of voters in a municipality approved the increase.

"It's a problem across the country, but it's worse on Long Island," Cuomo said of the area's property-tax burden, which he said is driving people from the state to more affordable regions.

"People will vote with their feet and leave," he said.

According to Cuomo, local governments in Nassau County — 300 by his count — account for the overwhelming tax burden. The proposed cap would apply to all local governments and school districts, including fire and independent districts.

"We have to get over the mindset that people's pockets are ever deepening," said Mangano, who put the county budget deficit at $286 million.

Yvette Gutierrez, a Bellmore resident, introduced Cuomo and Mangano at the lectern and said she is considering leaving her home because she can't afford the property taxes. "I've spoken to my neighbors and they feel my pain," she said.

"I'd like to see our taxes be capped. In fact, I'd like to see them go down; I'm paying too much money," said Anna Leverone, a 20-year resident of Wantagh who said she makes regular visits to the senior center on Tuesdays. "My taxes are over $13,000. That's a lot of money."

Though Nassau County residents have expressed support for the cap, the real hurdle will be convincing the state Legislature in Albany to pass one. On July 25, the AP reported that Gov. David Paterson will force the Legislature to reconsider his proposed property-tax cap of 4 percent per year.

The Legislature, which was supposed to have passed a state budget on April 1 and concluded its legislative session in June, was expected to consider Paterson's cap among other previously rejected proposals at a meeting set for July 28, at which the budget was expected to be finally ratified.

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