We will have to see how far “upstate” any of this will go and how long it will take. As far as I’m concerned a serious cut in property taxes, funding the unfunded mandates, reforming the Taylor law, Wickes law and every other impediment to our growth like TOLLS, would help the economy up here. The devil is always in the details and most of the time the devil is in certain districts and not all.

Spitzer, Bruno Tout Plans to Cut Taxes, Boost Upstate Economy

Both sides of the political aisle taking on taxes and the New York economy at the Capitol on Wednesday.

The governor and Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno agree that our taxes and fees are too high and are driving business and people out of New York State. Ya Think?

The latest developments on that front had Governor Spitzer introducing the panel that will look into the feasibility of capping skyrocketing property taxes — and Senator Bruno calling on the governor and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to act now on a plan the senator believes can save the Upstate economy.

Gov. Eliot Spitzer: “Money being spent on education is something we’re supportive of but it needs to be done wisely, properly, thoughtfully.”

That is why Governor Spitzer has appointed a 7-person panel — including former state lawmakers and the current Nassau County executive — to get to the root of why local governments and school districts have had to continue to raise property taxes year after year to cover their costs.

Tom Suozzi/Commission Chair: “Everyone agrees that property taxes are a major problem. What the solution is is going to be a big challenge.”

The governor says that solution is one of the fundamental building blocks to restore the state, upstate and down, to its rightful place as a competitor in the global economy.

Tom Suozzi: “It’s a very tough job that will require us to bring together some very disparate forces together — the Democrats and Republicans certainly, Upstate and Downstate, but also the different interests of property taxpayers, school superintendents, school boards, school teachers unions.”

Sen. Joseph Bruno/R-Majority Leader: “We want to get it done. We want to get a result. This isn’t posturing. This is for real.

What Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno says is for real is his conference’s Upstate Now plan — a 10-point job creation and economic development program with a $3.7 billion price tag.

Sen. Joseph Bruno: “If people don’t have jobs then what do they do? They do what they have done for the last 20 or 30 years, they go to other states.”

The plan calls for cutting or eliminating taxes on businesses, reducing energy and health care costs and making infrastructure improvements to make Upstate New York more business-friendly.

The senator and some business leaders say despite what he says, the governor’s budget just doesn’t do that.

Kenneth Adams/Business Council of NYS: “To the extent that there are some cuts in spending, it’s almost as if they used a butter knife when they needed a chainsaw.”

No word from the Assembly about whether it will take up Upstate Now.

The governor’s office says its priority is to work toward the best solutions for Upstate New York. (Excerpt) Read more

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