In this entry, I denounced the plan proposed by NY Gov. David Paterson to refuse to pull full property taxes owed on state-owned land in the Adirondack and Catskill Parks, a plan that would asphyxiate the Parks' municipalities, counties and school districts.
Bear in mind, we're not talking here about cutting state AID, but about refusing to pay the full amount of property taxes the state rightfully owes on land it owns... a luxury no other property owner has. Bear in mind also that these Parks are subject to restrictions on economic development imposed on them by the state legislature, executive agencies and the state constitution. And now Albany wants to refuse to pay the local taxes it owes, taxes that pay for the mandates on localities and schools that Albany imposes! And of course, this will cost even more taxpayer dollars when the localities inevitably and rightfully file a lawsuit against this proposal.
John over at Adirondack Almanack blog also heaps scorn on the unconscionable proposal. Almanack noted that in 2007, the state paid $69 million in property taxes to localities in the Adirondack Park alone. He points out, like I did, that if the state can refuse to pay the taxes it owes because its finances are tight, then why can't every other taxpayer do the same?
John concludes quite succinctly: I understand we are facing difficult economic times and I'm not one to raise the flag for program after program in tough times, but this is going way too far. A fair system of taxation ranks at the top of the list of American values.
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