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Funding Schools Through the State Makes Sense
Dear Editor:
One thing almost all residents of New York State can agree on is the need to rein in the yearly increase in school property taxes. For a working family with kids in school the school tax can seem high but worthwhile, given the importance of education and the quality results we witness for ourselves. The problem really develops as we age and eventually retire, when our incomes decrease substantially, but our large property tax burden increases with everybody else's. Instead of being able to relax and enjoy the fruits of our labors many of us will be forced out of our homes and often out of New York State.
There has been some discussion on ways of cutting costs for our school district, but as long as we continue to fund schools through property taxes those on fixed incomes will continue to be unfairly burdened. The only way to solve this problem is to stop financing public education through local property taxes, something that is now being seriously considered in Albany and here in Putnam County. Putnam County Legislature has weighed in on this issue and supports Kevin Cahill's "Equity in Education Act" (A04746).
According to the excellent recent newsletter from Assemblywoman Sandy Galef devoted to property tax relief, the Cahill bill "would mandate all costs of a basic quality education be paid directly by the State of New York through revenue collected in income taxes." More details on this bill, as well as other proposed solutions and a questionnaire to record your opinion, can be found in the newsletter. Please respond to it, or contact the Assemblywoman's office to make your opinion heard or for more information (galefs@assembly.state.ny.us or (914) 941-9132).
School funding has to come from somewhere and under the Cahill bill income taxes would go up, but those with more income would pay more, and those who are retired or on a fixed income would pay less. This is the way it works for federal funding and for many of the State projects, programs and services that we use every day. It makes sense to uncouple public school financing from regressive property taxes. That way we can all grow old in the community we love.
Seth Gallagher
Trustee, Village of Cold
Spring
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