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Ritchie, Griffo vote in Senate for property tax cap

Posted 2/1/11

Both of St. Lawrence County’s state senators voted Monday with the majority to pass Governor Cuomo’s property tax cap plan. The vote was 45 to 17. 48th District Sen. Patty Ritchie said, …

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Ritchie, Griffo vote in Senate for property tax cap

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Both of St. Lawrence County’s state senators voted Monday with the majority to pass Governor Cuomo’s property tax cap plan. The vote was 45 to 17.

48th District Sen. Patty Ritchie said, “We’re serious cutting spending, and we are serious about cutting taxes. This bill allows local taxpayers to do both.”

“We took the first major step today toward reining in runaway government spending,” said Sen. Joseph Griffo, who represents the 47th District. “The property tax cap represents needed change to help make New York affordable again without compromising public safety or essential government services.”

Ritchie added, “If the Assembly agrees and the bill becomes law, New Yorkers could actually freeze the levy from one year to the next, gain control over spending, and help make staying in their homes more affordable," she said.

The governor’s bill, according to Ritchie, would mandate that county legislatures, city councils, town and village boards and other taxing jurisdictions keep property tax increases under two percent or obtain approval from a two-thirds majority of the governing body.

Griffo said that since New York’s taxes are consistently ranked among the worst in the nation that the passage will spark further financial changes in the coming months.

The Senate also approved a bill that would assist municipal governments and school districts in gaining relief from state mandates. It is aimed at giving them flexibility to contain costs and in turn lessen the property taxes.

Both bills will now be sent to the Assembly for their consideration.