Supervisors oppose SALT elimination

Madison County supervisors unanimously opposed proposed state and local tax eliminations.

WAMPSVILLE, N.Y. » State and local tax reform earned the ire of supervisors at the first day of Annual Session on Thursday.

“I’m voting for this, but I just wanted to voice my opinion on the fact this gives Albany a ‘Get out of Jail Free’ card by not pressuring them to lower some of the highest property taxes in the country,” said Brookfield Supervisor John Salka in reference to Resolution 54, which outlines the county’s opposition to the proposed reform. “I urge everyone of my fellow supervisors and even my community to try and hold Albany to the line.”

Congress is giving serious consideration to eliminating the federal income tax deduction for state and local taxes, or SALT. The deduction has been in place for more than 100 years and heavily used by residents of the county and the state.

According to the resolution, the state and local tax deduction is a fundamental principle of federalism and without it residents would be faced with double taxation, as they would be forced to pay federal income taxes on the taxes they pay to state and local governments.

“My point is, property tax owners have footed the bill for far too

long,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman and Sullivan Supervisor John Becker. “When you have something like this come along, you can’t take their candy away. I’m going to vote for this. I don’t want to vote for this, but because I think it’s an oppressive tax and the onus is only on property owners. It doesn’t spread the tax dollars over everybody in New York state like it should.”

Becker said New York state pensions have ballooned over the years. In 2000, the pension cost for 700 employees was $42,000. “Cindy Urtz has in the budget $4.3 million for 650 employees. “I don’t think that’s being responsible. And you know who’s picking up the tab? Property tax owners.”

Lebanon Supervisor James Goldstein opposed the tax reform bill as a whole and said it was poorly crafted. “This tax bill is extremely irresponsible. It’s going to add to the deficit. It’ll benefit wealthy people at the expense of the middle class.”

Resolution 54, opposing any tax reform proposal that would eliminate the state and local tax deduction, was passed unanimously and certified copies of the resolution will be in the hands of the president, members of the senate and house.

The next meeting of Annual Session will be Thursday, Nov. 16, at 10a.m. at the county building.