Tax Cap Mandate Relief MMA
budget
26 pages
Meeting: portal event 716 (no meeting page on file)
Agenda item: Work Session — Discussion and explanation of new tax cap legislation
Budget document, 26 pages. Attached to agenda item: “Work Session — Discussion and explanation of new tax cap legislation”
Retrieved 2026-07-31 from the village's meeting portal.
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Also attached to this agenda item:
NYS OSC 2011 taxcaplaw
Extracted text
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
New York’s New Property Tax Cap:
New York’s New Property Tax Cap:
Issues and Implications
Issues and Implications
Barbara VanEpps, NYCOM Deputy Director
September 28, 2011
White Plains, NY
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
OUTLINE
Property Tax Cap
History
Other States
What We Got
What We Got
Points of Clarification
Implications
Mandate Relief
NYCOM’s Efforts
What We Got
What We Asked For
Next Steps
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
History
History
Commission on Property Tax Relief (2008)
Commission on Property Tax Relief (2008) – the lesser
the lesser
of 4% or 120% of CPI on school RPT levies only
of 4% or 120% of CPI on school RPT levies only
Paterson Proposal (2010)
Paterson Proposal (2010) – the lesser of 4% or 120%
the lesser of 4% or 120%
p
(
)
p
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)
of CPI, override 2/3
of CPI, override 2/3rd
rd vote of governing body, no
vote of governing body, no
exclusions
exclusions
Cuomo Proposal (2011)
Cuomo Proposal (2011) – the lesser of 2% or CPI,
the lesser of 2% or CPI,
override subject to mandatory referendum,
override subject to mandatory referendum,
exclusions for extraordinary capital expenditures &
exclusions for extraordinary capital expenditures &
judgments
judgments
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
Other States
Other States
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
1980 Proposition 2 ½
1980 Proposition 2 ½
Contains a levy ceiling (2 ½% of total full value) and
Contains a levy ceiling (2 ½% of total full value) and
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)
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)
a limit of 2 ½% in year
a limit of 2 ½% in year-to
to-year levy growth
year levy growth
Excludes certain capital expenditures
Excludes certain capital expenditures
Override must be approved by voters
Override must be approved by voters
Cap was initially successful when coupled with an
Cap was initially successful when coupled with an
infusion of state aid
infusion of state aid
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
Other States
Other States
New Jersey
New Jersey
July 2010
July 2010 - 2% levy cap
2% levy cap
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Excludes debt, pension and health insurance costs
Excludes debt, pension and health insurance costs
and spending for emergencies
and spending for emergencies
Override must be approved by the voters
Override must be approved by the voters
Passed with a promise of mandate relief some of
Passed with a promise of mandate relief some of
which has been realized (e.g., binding arbitration
which has been realized (e.g., binding arbitration
reform)
reform)
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
What We Got
What We Got
Chapter 97 of the Laws of 2011 (see attached)
Chapter 97 of the Laws of 2011 (see attached)
Cap on year
Cap on year-to
to-year growth in the “tax levy” at the
year growth in the “tax levy” at the
lesser of 2% or CPI
lesser of 2% or CPI U (CPI for All Urban Consumers:
U (CPI for All Urban Consumers:
lesser of 2% or CPI
lesser of 2% or CPI-U (CPI for All Urban Consumers:
U (CPI for All Urban Consumers:
U.S. City Average)
U.S. City Average) ---- currently 2%
currently 2%
Effective for local fiscal years beginning in 2012
Effective for local fiscal years beginning in 2012
Applies to “taxes imposed on real property by or on
Applies to “taxes imposed on real property by or on
behalf of a county, city, town, village, school district,
behalf of a county, city, town, village, school district,
fire district or special district”
fire district or special district” – NYC and Big 5 school
NYC and Big 5 school
districts exempt
districts exempt
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
What We Got
What We Got
Also applies to special ad valorem levies and special
Also applies to special ad valorem levies and special
assessments, but not user fees and fines
assessments, but not user fees and fines
Up to 1.5% of any unused cap can be carried over
Up to 1.5% of any unused cap can be carried over
into the following year
into the following year
Carryover must be used in subsequent year and
Carryover must be used in subsequent year and
therefore cannot be “banked”
therefore cannot be “banked”
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
What We Got
What We Got
Exclusions from Tax Cap
Exclusions from Tax Cap
Court order/judgment amounts (arising out of tort actions)
Court order/judgment amounts (arising out of tort actions)
exceeding 5% of the prior year levy
exceeding 5% of the prior year levy
Does
Does not
not include tax certioraris
include tax certioraris
Increases in full value of taxable real property resulting from
Increases in full value of taxable real property resulting from
new construction, annexation or tax roll omissions (“tax base
new construction, annexation or tax roll omissions (“tax base
growth factor” calculated by NYS Dept. of Taxation & Finance)
growth factor” calculated by NYS Dept. of Taxation & Finance)
Adjustments will be made for transferring functions as well as
Adjustments will be made for transferring functions as well as
government consolidation/dissolution
government consolidation/dissolution
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
What We Got
What We Got
Exclusions for Pension Costs
Exclusions for Pension Costs
Increase in pension costs attributable to increase in average
Increase in pension costs attributable to increase in average
actuarial contribution rates for ERS & PFRS in excess of 2% of
actuarial contribution rates for ERS & PFRS in excess of 2% of
payroll
payroll
E.g., Change in Average Actuarial Rate from 2012 to 2013
E.g., Change in Average Actuarial Rate from 2012 to 2013
ERS: 16.3% to 18.9% = 2.6% increase in rate so 0.6% of ERS
ERS: 16.3% to 18.9% = 2.6% increase in rate so 0.6% of ERS
payroll is excludable
payroll is excludable
PFRS: 21.6% to 25.8% = 4.2% increase in rate so 2.2% of
PFRS: 21.6% to 25.8% = 4.2% increase in rate so 2.2% of
PFRS payroll is excludable
PFRS payroll is excludable
Note: The Average Actuarial Rate changes amount to a 16%
Note: The Average Actuarial Rate changes amount to a 16%
increase in ERS bills and a 19.4% increase in PFRS bills
increase in ERS bills and a 19.4% increase in PFRS bills
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
What We Got
What We Got
Exclusions for Pension Costs
Exclusions for Pension Costs
“Payroll” is what Retirement System uses to generate
“Payroll” is what Retirement System uses to generate
pension bill
pension bill
If local government has chosen to amortize, it cannot
If local government has chosen to amortize, it cannot
take advantage of the pension exclusion
take advantage of the pension exclusion
No carryover of unused pension exclusion is
No carryover of unused pension exclusion is
permitted
permitted
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
What We Got
What We Got – Local Override
Local Override
Prior to budget adoption, local government must file
Prior to budget adoption, local government must file
tax levy limit calculation with OSC (using web
tax levy limit calculation with OSC (using web-based
based
reporting system)
reporting system)
Local governing body may adopt local law to
Local governing body may adopt local law to
Local governing body may adopt local law to
Local governing body may adopt local law to
authorize override of tax cap
authorize override of tax cap
Override is good for one fiscal year and must be
Override is good for one fiscal year and must be
approved by 60% of local governing body
approved by 60% of local governing body
Law is considered effective upon adoption and may
Law is considered effective upon adoption and may
be approved on the same day as budget
be approved on the same day as budget
If tax levy limit is exceeded due to “clerical or
If tax levy limit is exceeded due to “clerical or
technical error,” excess must be placed in reserve to
technical error,” excess must be placed in reserve to
reduce next year’s levy
reduce next year’s levy
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
What We Got
What We Got – Issues of Interest
Issues of Interest
Default Budgets
Default Budgets – If proposed budget becomes
If proposed budget becomes
adopted budget “by default,” the resulting levy
adopted budget “by default,” the resulting levy
cannot exceed the 2% cap
cannot exceed the 2% cap
Special Districts without separately elected governing
Special Districts without separately elected governing
bodies are subject to the cap of the local government
bodies are subject to the cap of the local government
by which they are governed
by which they are governed
The tax cap law essentially controls for PILOT
The tax cap law essentially controls for PILOT
payments that do not grow by more than 2%
payments that do not grow by more than 2%
When a PILOT agreement expires and the property
When a PILOT agreement expires and the property
goes back on the tax roll, it will not be accounted for
goes back on the tax roll, it will not be accounted for
in the Quantity Change Factor
in the Quantity Change Factor
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
What We Got
What We Got – Tax Cap Calculation
Tax Cap Calculation
Determine total amount of taxes levied for prior fiscal year
Determine total amount of taxes levied for prior fiscal year
Multiply amount by Tax Base Growth Factor as determined by
Multiply amount by Tax Base Growth Factor as determined by
Taxation and Finance
Taxation and Finance
Add any PILOTs that were receivable in the prior fiscal year
Add any PILOTs that were receivable in the prior fiscal year
y
p
y
y
p
y
Multiply the result by the allowable levy growth factor (tax
Multiply the result by the allowable levy growth factor (tax
cap) which will be calculated annually by OSC
cap) which will be calculated annually by OSC
Subtract PILOTs receivable in the coming fiscal year
Subtract PILOTs receivable in the coming fiscal year
= Tax Levy Limit Before Exclusions
= Tax Levy Limit Before Exclusions
Add adjustment for transfer of function
Add adjustment for transfer of function
Add amount of tort exclusion
Add amount of tort exclusion
Add amount of pension exclusion
Add amount of pension exclusion
= Tax Levy Limit Adjusted For Exclusions
= Tax Levy Limit Adjusted For Exclusions
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
Points of Clarification
Points of Clarification
Relevies of delinquent taxes or delinquent
Relevies of delinquent taxes or delinquent
user fees are not subject to the tax cap
user fees are not subject to the tax cap
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The levy should not be adjusted for tax
The levy should not be adjusted for tax
refunds granted after taxes are levied
refunds granted after taxes are levied
The tax levy limit applies to the combined
The tax levy limit applies to the combined
town
town-wide and TOV levy
wide and TOV levy
BIDs are included in the tax levy limit of the
BIDs are included in the tax levy limit of the
municipality in which they operate
municipality in which they operate
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
Additional Information
Additional Information
Office of the State Comptroller
Office of the State Comptroller
FAQs, Online Reporting Form, Pension Exclusion Calculator,
FAQs, Online Reporting Form, Pension Exclusion Calculator,
www osc state ny us/localgov/realprop/index htm
www osc state ny us/localgov/realprop/index htm
www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/realprop/index.htm
www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/realprop/index.htm
Dept of Taxation and Finance/Dept. Of State
Dept of Taxation and Finance/Dept. Of State
Guidelines for Implementation & Tax Base Growth Factors
Guidelines for Implementation & Tax Base Growth Factors
www.tax.ny.gov/research/property/cap.htm
www.tax.ny.gov/research/property/cap.htm
NYCOM website contains links to
NYCOM website contains links to all
all documents
documents
www.nycom.org
www.nycom.org
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
Implications
Implications
The Truth About Tax Caps…
The Truth About Tax Caps…
They do nothing to address the true cost drivers
They do nothing to address the true cost drivers
Pensions
Pensions
Health insurance
Health insurance
Energy/fuel
Energy/fuel
May increase disparities among communities
May increase disparities among communities
Often result in reductions in services and personnel
Often result in reductions in services and personnel
...unless they are accompanied by increased State aid
...unless they are accompanied by increased State aid
and
and meaningful
meaningful mandate relief
mandate relief
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
Capped Growth in Property Taxes
vs.
Mandated Growth in Pension Costs
vs.
Workforce Reductions
City
Population
Capped Increase in
Property Tax Levy
Estimated
Pension
Increase 2012
% by which
Pension Increase
Exceeds Tax
Increase
Reduction in
City Workforce
2000 to 2011
Canandaigua
11,264
$83,578
$212,089
154%
18%
Corning
10,842
$106,081
$249,937
136%
21%
Elmira
30,940
$208,851
$822,619
294%
16%
Lackawanna
19,064
$177,774
$425,725
139%
16%
North Tonawanda
33,262
$313,626
$911,632
191%
22%
Ogdensburg
12,364
$87,446
$129,135
48%
8%
Oswego
18,096
$136,474
$318,703
134%
26%
Plattsburgh
18,816
$181,623
$814,777
349%
15%
Rome
34,950
$293,392
$961,501
228%
15%
Syracuse
147,306
$664,242
$5,903,687
789%
6%
Watertown
26,705
$149,748
$887,349
493%
3%
Source: Preliminary data from New York State Conference of Mayors (NYCOM) city budget survey.
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
"By enacting a tax cap without meaningful mandate
"By enacting a tax cap without meaningful mandate
relief, New York has missed an historic opportunity to
relief, New York has missed an historic opportunity to
provide real and sustainable property tax relief. The so
provide real and sustainable property tax relief. The so-
called mandate relief approved by the Senate and
called mandate relief approved by the Senate and
Assembly is meager and anemic. It will have no
Assembly is meager and anemic. It will have no
material impact on the rapidly rising local costs that are
material impact on the rapidly rising local costs that are
material impact on the rapidly rising local costs that are
material impact on the rapidly rising local costs that are
the cause of New York's property tax crisis. As a result,
the cause of New York's property tax crisis. As a result,
communities throughout our state will be forced to
communities throughout our state will be forced to
either override the tax cap, decimate essential
either override the tax cap, decimate essential
municipal services, or both. Before the tax cap goes into
municipal services, or both. Before the tax cap goes into
effect in 2012, our leaders in Albany must enact
effect in 2012, our leaders in Albany must enact
mandate relief that makes a difference.“
mandate relief that makes a difference.“
Peter A. Baynes
Peter A. Baynes
NYCOM Executive Director
NYCOM Executive Director
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
Mandate Relief
Mandate Relief
NYCOM’s Efforts
NYCOM’s Efforts
1910
1910 - Schenectady
Schenectady
2006
2006 Connecting the Dots
Connecting the Dots
2006
2006 Connecting the Dots
Connecting the Dots
2009 StoptheTaxShift.org
2009 StoptheTaxShift.org
2010 Mandate Relief Task Force &
2010 Mandate Relief Task Force &
You Can’t Cap What You Can’t Control
You Can’t Cap What You Can’t Control
Educate policymakers and the public regarding the
Educate policymakers and the public regarding the
direct relationship between mandate relief and
direct relationship between mandate relief and
property tax relief
property tax relief
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
Mandate Relief
Mandate Relief
What we got
What we got ---- not exactly “meaningful”
not exactly “meaningful”
Repeal of the mandate that requires municipalities to
Repeal of the mandate that requires municipalities to
provide a police chief with the same dollar increase in
provide a police chief with the same dollar increase in
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compensation received by his/her highest ranking
compensation received by his/her highest ranking
subordinate
subordinate
Ability to recover municipal expenses associated with
Ability to recover municipal expenses associated with
police officer training when an officer transfers to
police officer training when an officer transfers to
another municipal police department
another municipal police department
Authorization to piggyback onto federal contracts for
Authorization to piggyback onto federal contracts for
computer hardware, software and professional services,
computer hardware, software and professional services,
as well as federal defense supply contracts
as well as federal defense supply contracts
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
Mandate Relief
Mandate Relief
What we got
What we got ---- not exactly “meaningful”
not exactly “meaningful”
Authorization for the Office of General Services
Authorization for the Office of General Services
(OGS) to provide centralized fuel and electricity
(OGS) to provide centralized fuel and electricity
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purchases for municipalities
purchases for municipalities
Creation of an 11
Creation of an 11-member Mandate Relief Council
member Mandate Relief Council
(7 gubernatorial appointees and 4 legislative
(7 gubernatorial appointees and 4 legislative
appointees) with the power to review and
appointees) with the power to review and
recommend
recommend amendment/repeal of regulatory and
amendment/repeal of regulatory and
statutory mandates presented by local
statutory mandates presented by local
governments and school districts
governments and school districts
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
Mandate Relief
Mandate Relief
What We Asked For
What We Asked For
Pension reform
Pension reform
Mandatory health insurance contributions
Mandatory health insurance contributions
y
Repeal of the Triborough Amendment
Repeal of the Triborough Amendment
Binding Arbitration reform
Binding Arbitration reform
Limits on police and firefighter disability payments
Limits on police and firefighter disability payments
Prevailing Wage reform
Prevailing Wage reform
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
New York’s New Property Tax Cap
Next Steps
Next Steps
Resolve outstanding Tax Cap issues and provide
Resolve outstanding Tax Cap issues and provide
training for local officials
training for local officials
training for local officials
training for local officials
Achieve real and sustainable property tax relief
Achieve real and sustainable property tax relief
Promote coalition
Promote coalition-building and public education
building and public education
Continue dialogue with Governor and legislators on
Continue dialogue with Governor and legislators on
“2
“2nd
nd step”
step”
Expand local revenue options
Expand local revenue options
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