A fight over property taxes is derailing budget talks between Mayor Bloomberg and the City Council, with council leaders walking away from negotiations and insisting they won't agree to a property tax hike they say the mayor is pushing.
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(NY Sun) -- The impasse reflects just how far the mayor and council are from reaching a deal before a July 1 budget deadline, even though both sides are proposing tax increases as a way to help the city through an economic downturn. Council Member Lewis Fidler of Brooklyn said the council is waiting for the Bloomberg administration "to stop stomping their feet and saying 'No, no, no' to every possible alternative and idea that we have brought forward. They are at a place that is unacceptable. It's unacceptable to the council and it's unacceptable to New Yorkers. Their solution to everything is: Raise the property tax." The tax debate at City Hall stands in stark contrast to that taking place upstate, where Albany lawmakers had been talking about capping property taxes, not raising them. Instead of the mayor's idea of rolling back a 7% property tax cut, council members have been promoting an increase to the city's hotel tax that they say would bring in more than $200 million a year. The increase would raise the city's hotel tax by 60%, to 8% from 5%. Mr. Bloomberg has dismissed the proposal, saying it would harm the city's tourist industry. Raising the hotel tax also would require approval from Albany lawmakers. The city, however, is believed to have the authority to raise the tax to 6% without state approval.
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Comments (2 posted):
I now its madison avenue,I am 59 years old I am in debt up my bold head but the mayor wants to raise the taxes on properties, for all those of us who don't now if tommorrow we will be on the street homeless, were we will get our next meal. I dont now that I have the guts to do my self in, I have had two hart attacks I suffer from juvenile Diabetes WERE WILL I GET MY INSULIN AND SURRIGES. And I cannot Walk as much as I use Too, my spinal cord has been fused and I had lower back surgery. I am sure that I am not the only person who has the same or other problems. MR MAYOR WHAT's the game plan or have you lost your marbles all together. I am the guy who is going to have to recruit an army of tin cup new yorkers that are going to have to park themselfs at cityhall to make a point dont keep on hurting us find something we can do without. Don't ask the police to target those in poor neibor hoods give us something back, with out having to resort to putting all of us ugly poor people on the street so yo can go out of office remembered by all your cronies the pretty people. David A. Yadgaroff
Tell the major to live on 8.00 an hour before taxes
think about that mr. mayor
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