Readers Write: Homeowners paying cost of tax breaks to businesses

The Island Now

Today I received an e-mail from Gov. Cuomo’s office which starts out saying, “Thanks to the governor’s reforms, middle-class families in New York now pay the lowest tax rate in 62 years, and New York businesses will save nearly $800 million in tax relief over the next three years. In addition, the governor’s groundbreaking initiative –Start Up NY– will create zero-tax communities on SUNY campuses to attract start-ups and new businesses to create jobs for our people.”

I have never encountered such a bald-faced lie as this one of lower taxes. 

Does he mean that tax breaks will be given to businesses via having homeowners directly pay for their tax breaks? 

Here are the cold, hard facts. My school tax has increased yet another 10 percent this year and that is on top of an horrendous 16 percent increase last year. 

My general property taxes have increased by about 3 percent a year. My water tax is now higher. 

I am interested to have it explained to me how this is considered lower taxes by anyone who was able to successfully pass their fourth grade arithmetic exams. I do not know if these gross property tax increases are Mangano’s fault or whoever. 

But judging from this e-mail, is the governor suggesting that people start up businesses in the new cheaper New York and then live in some other state or one will pay those same tax “savings” through their property taxes?

Apparently there is no real tax savings, just shifting around the payees a bit?

More hocus-pocus numbers from a computer in Albany that just don’t add up if you are the person in the actual house.

Ron Greenfield

Great Neck

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