Hundreds pre-pay city property taxes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » The new City Council held a second meeting in as many days Tuesday night.

After taking the oath of office New Year’s Day to mark the beginning of a two-year term, Mayor Meg Kelly conducted her first meeting as mayor with council members appointing deputies and speaking goals for the next two years.

The five-member council, along with two county supervisors, met Tuesday night for a second straight time for the regularly scheduled council meeting.

The city allowed people to pre-pay their 2018 property taxes at the end of the last week, before the federal tax bill — which was approved last month — took effect.

Under the law, which President Donald Trump recently signed, the state and local tax deduction on federal returns is capped at $10,000. The deduction had been unlimited.

State officials said allowing people to pre-pay their 2018 taxes in 2017 should let them take advantage of the unlimited deduction for state and local taxes one more time.

The deduction is an especially popular one for many property owners in New York state.

Commissioner of Finance Michele Madigan said explained the city received 380 online payments, getting $1.27 million.

The tax office, which was opened beginning 2 p.m. Dec. 28 through 4:30 p.m. Dec. 29, collected 533 inperson payments, totaling $1.52 million.

About $2.8 million was taken in, which Madigan pointed out is about a third of what the city brought in after the first quarter ended in 2017.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo previously issued an Executive Order, saying the payments could be accepted if postmarked by Dec. 31, so more payments could still be on the way.

Madigan said she plans to provide an additional update on the pre-payment of 2018 property taxes during the next meeting.

“Hopefully taxpayers will be able to take the deduction,” said Madigan during the meeting. “That’s still yet to be determined.”

In other business:

• Commissioner of Public Safety Peter Martin reappointed Dr. Timothy Brooks as City Health Officer for 2018.

• Commissioner of Public Works Anthony “Skip” Scirocco thanked his department for their efforts on clearing the streets early Christmas morning.

• Kelly appointed Tom Roohan and Stephen Sullivan to the City Center Authority.