Statement by Rye Town Supervisor and Congressional Candidate
Joe Carvin on Disturbing New Property Tax Data for
Westchester and Rockland Counties
"Westchester and Rockland Families Hit with Triple Whammy of Higher Taxes, Falling Property Values, and Drop in Median Income"
September 20, 2012
" Decades of irresponsible spending and unfunded mandates -- both at the federal and state level -- have caught up with the families of Westchester and Rockland counties. Today we learned that Westchester is the first county in our nation's history to surpass the median property tax rate of $10,000. Westchester is once again the highest property-taxed county in America, and Rockland is right behind it at #3, with a median tax burden of $9,376.
"Those numbers tell only part of the story, though. Our families have been hit with a triple-whammy: At the same time property taxes were going up 12.5% in Westchester and 11% in Rockland from 2008-'11, property values fell by about 15% in Westchester and about 14% in Rockland, while median incomes fell by more than 3%, making it harder and harder to meet these tax burdens.
"The new Census Bureau data merely formalizes what Rockland and Westchester families already know and feel: Our government has badly failed us and we are paying the price through higher property taxes, lower home values, and falling incomes. Well-intentioned career politicians like my opponent have spent this state and nation to its knees; we can no longer sustain their policies in office."
As Rye Town Supervisor Mr. Carvin has reduced the size of government by 25% since taking office in 2008, and he has lowered taxes every year he has been in office. He has also refused to accept the $17,000 salary the town supervisor position provides and is leading the charge to restructure local government because the current tax structure is "patently unsustainable".
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You can't get something for nothing and, one way or another, we have to pay our bills.
Since 1939 (when the office of County Executive was founded) - 20 years Democratic County Executives. 54 years Republican. Since 1970 - 20 years Democratic, 23 years Republican County Legislature - Since 1970 (Board of Legislators founded) - 15 years Democratic, 28 years Republican (Before that the Board of Supervisors was always Republican) In New York State: Since 1939, Governor - 32 years Democratic, 41 years Republican Since 1970, Governor - 26 years Democratic, 17 years Republican Since 1939 Assembly - 40 years Democratic, 34 years Republican Since 1970 Assembly - 38 years Democratic, 5 years Republican (last in 1974) Since 1939 Senate - 3 years Democratic, 71 years Republican Since 1970 Senate - 2 years Democratic, 41 years Republican For only 2 years (2009-10, the period when Pedro Espada and his Gang of 4 held the Senate hostage) have Democrats controlled all three branches (Assembly, Senate, Governor) of government in New York State. Earlier in this history, Republicans controlled all three many times, most recently in 1974. Don't make this a Democrat/Republican matter. Especially because of their dominance of control of the State Senate, Republicans are every bit as responsible as Democrats in both Westchester and New York State for where we are in terms of taxes.
Over the last 2 years when the Republicans have controlled that branch, no tax increases, do you think that a co-incidence? Hardly & the exact reason everyone should vote for Bob Cohen in the 37th senate district. Bob won't vote to raise your taxes & Latimer (by his own proven voting record) will.
My point in posting the governmental control facts is that NYS and Westchester taxation issues have been a very long time developing. Things did not suddenly spin out of control in 2009-10, nor suddenly improve in 2011-12. Both parties are responsible for the current state of NYS taxes. Neither side is blameless; neither side is the devil. I will take you up on checking out George Latimer's record. In the four years he was chairman of the County Board of Legislators (1998-2001), the only four years of his career when he had direct and substantial input on the construction of a budget, county-imposed property taxes went DOWN three of four years. This was after 6 years of tax increases under a Republican board and Republican legislature. Simply asserting, as Bob Cohen does, that Latimer is a wanton tax-raiser doesn't make it true. Get the facts for yourselves.
I've talked to Bob Cohen and I wouldn't expect he'd support ANY tax increase put in front of him & that's the guy we need in Albany, especially in these trying times and in a state with some of the highest taxes in the nation.
I'm willing to bet Bob Cohen would support full repeal & he'd find the savings to offset the whole thing.