ALBANY — Gov. Cuomo won a major victory last night as the Republican-controlled Senate, with 13 Democrats in agreement, overwhelmingly approved a first-ever cap on runaway property taxes in the suburbs and upstate.
The measure, a centerpiece of the Democratic Cuomo’s campaign for governor last fall, passed the Legislature’s upper house 43-17, although it faces an uphill battle in the Democrat-controlled Assembly.
“With this bill, we are keeping our commitment to provide real property-tax relief to homeowners across the state who are sick and tired of paying the highest property taxes in the nation,” said Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Nassau).
Senate Minority Leader John Sampson (D-Brooklyn) also backed the measure, contending, “Skyrocketing property taxes are killing middle-class families and strangling retirees across the state.”
Cuomo acknowledged the Senate vote with an eye toward the Assembly, saying, “I, along with countless New Yorkers, look forward to this cap becoming a reality, as taxpayers across the state cannot afford to wait any longer for relief.”
Cuomo’s proposal would limit school and local government property-tax increases outside of New York City to no more than 2 percent a year, or the annual consumer price index increase, unless 60 percent of voters approve an exception.
While public-opinion polls have shown overwhelming support for the proposal, it is opposed by liberal-oriented Assembly Democrats and their allies in the teachers union.
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) has conspicuously refused to endorse Cuomo’s plan, although he has repeatedly insisted his Democratic majority will pass some form of property-tax cap.
“I’m sure we’ll be able to reach an agreement with the governor,” said Silver when asked about the GOP-controlled Senate’s decision to pass Cuomo’s plan.
The Senate’s swift passage of the cap appeared aimed at giving Cuomo a boost a day before he unveils his proposed cut-to-the-bone state budget.