STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – The public hearing process for the city Advisory Commission on Property Tax Reform’s preliminary report, which was released last year prior to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, will take place after more than one year.
Released in January 2020, the report outlined initial 10 recommendations that would make the city’s property tax system simpler, clearer and more fair.
The first hearing will take place virtually on Staten Island on May 11, followed by Brooklyn on May 27. An in-person hearing was scheduled to take place on March 12, 2020 on Staten Island but was cancelled because of COVID-19.
The commission is soliciting input — specifically whether they would achieve the goals of a more fair system, would be improved by certain modifications, or should be enhanced with additional recommendations — from the public on the 10 recommendations.
Those wishing to testify must register no later than 24-hours in advance; speakers may register at the commission’s website.
The long-awaited Property Tax Commission was formed in 2018 by Mayor Bill de Blasio and City Council Speaker Corey Johnson and tasked with reviewing the current property tax system:
- The tax classification system;
- The methods of determining property market values and assessments;
- Treatment of property value increases;
- Relief for low-income and senior homeowners;
- Method of calculating tax rates.
- The advisory commission’s recommendations may lead to changes that could be made at the city level or those that would require state legislation.
The commission will also review comparable property tax systems across the country, including different methods for property valuation and homeowner protections.
In New York City, property tax makes up 45% of the local tax base and is governed by state law, which has been in existence for nearly four decades. Staten Island has one of the highest effective property tax rates of the five boroughs and residents pay higher taxes than residents throughout the city.
Co-chaired by NYU Law Professor Vicki Been and Marc V. Shaw, the commission was initially formed without any Staten Islanders. Councilman Steven Matteo (R-Mid-Island) asked the mayor’s office to appoint a Staten Islander to the commission and made a recommendation however, it was initially shot down by the administration.
Ten months later Staten Islander Allen Cappelli was appointed to the commission.
RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE CREATING NEW CLASS, RELIEF PROGRAM, AND MORE
The preliminary report was compiled after the commission reached a consensus on 10 initial recommendations they believe will, together, resolve issues with the current property tax system.
The commission recommends creating a new residential class by moving co-ops, condominiums and residential buildings with up to 10 units along with one- to three-family homes. Because they are similar to Class 1 properties, grouping co-ops and condos together would ensure the same treatment under the property tax system.
Using a sales-based methodology to value all properties in the residential class would “serve to promote equity among all property types in the new residential class,” the commission said in its report.
Eliminating fractional assessments and assessing every property in the residential class at its full market value would improve transparency and situate all properties on an equal footing.
The fourth recommendation is to eliminate the Assessed Value Growth Cap and phase in the annual market value changes over five years at a rate of 20% per year.
The commission is proposing a relief program that would be administered via the property tax system for low-income owners facing high property tax burdens. The program would limit property tax bills for qualifying owners based on a certain percentage of household income.
Published by silive.com
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