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(3) Copy of Original Taxpayers' Petition and Town Board Letter Encouraging Homeowner Feedback and Original Draft of Desirable Property Tax Reform Legislation

Background: In 2005, the following petition was drafted for Ticonderoga property owners to sign to demand property tax reform.

Click the image below to download a copy of the ORIGINAL petition (pdf format) -- this is the petition that was signed by over 450 Ticonderoga property owners in May and June 2005.

In May 2005, our Ticonderoga Town Board unanimously signed a letter to Ticonderoga property owners to encourage them to consider signing the petition if they wanted property tax reform. The letter (below) was printed on the back side of the blank petition and distributed through the local newspaper.

Click the image below to download a copy of the May 12, 2005 letter from the Ticonderoga Town Board to Ticonderoga property taxpayers.

 (1)  Some form of “circuit breaker” that an individual could apply for that would cap the property taxes that would otherwise be owed. [Taxpayers would pay their property tax as usual but apply for a REFUNDABLE credit when submitting their NY state income tax returns]   Should apply to both SCHOOL taxes and TOWN & COUNTY taxes. Ideally, should work by capping the actual taxes owed.

 HOW TO QUALIFY:

            (1) By AGE – for example, Betty Little’s proposed legislation;  BUT – NY  legislation needs to be effective at AGE 60 or 65, not at age 70 

           (2) By INCOME – example, Vermont’s law limiting school property tax  to 2% of gross income (up to $75,000);  BUT -  NY legislation needs to allow people with “high” total household incomes (eg. up to $75,000 or $100,000) to qualify – not just those with “low incomes”

           (3) By MEDICAL NEED –  example, lower age threshold for those retired on medical disabilities to qualify for property tax relief: eg, disabled annuitants over age 55 or 60

 (2)   Some form of “hold harmless” provision  that an individual receiving such a “circuit breaker” could qualify for – such as, ideally,  no accumulated indebtedness to the state (such as in Betty Little’s proposed legislation); or, legislation should include a waiver  for long-held family properties (eg., 2% of indebtedness could be waived for every year property is owned in a family); or, if there is an accumulated indebtedness, no interest is added to the tax bill the state would seek to collect.

 (3)   Some form of property tax cap for everyone  (no need to apply individually based on age, income, or medical need) – eg: a 3% cap in the annual rise in assessed value (or in actual tax paid) for all homes, thus preventing “runaway” assessment increases or property tax increases.

  (4)   “Level the playing field” - Reform property tax system as it currently exists to clarify how it is intended to work and eliminate inequities between taxing jurisdictions. Insist on reassessments at 100% of market value in all jurisdictions or make clear that jurisdictions can assess at less than 100% if desired. Require that jurisdictions reassess at least every three years; or, as in some states, (example is Maryland) divide parcels into three groups and reassess each group every three years on a rotating basis.

  (5)  Work toward eliminating property tax as revenue source for schools and/or town/county government: shift toward full state funding of schools; state funding could be derived from income tax or sales tax revenues

 (6)   Encourage local taxing authorities to utilize other local revenue sources besides local property taxes. For example, allow a local sales tax surcharge or a local income tax surcharge specifically earmarked to reduce the property tax burden that would otherwise be collected

Betty Little and other legislators are to be thanked for their efforts to reform the property tax system. Care should be taken NOT to “just” expand  “low assessment value” circuit breakers such as the NY Basic STAR exemption. While owners of inexpensive small homes would benefit from an increase in the Basic STAR exemption, the vast majority would see little property tax relief.

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