Katz: "New York State on Life Support and Dying" Because of Taxes

Steve Katz held a press conference in front of the Clark Funeral Home on August 13 at 11:00 a.m. to announce what can be done about the rising taxes.

He said  that "New York State is on life support and dying."

He discussed the rise of property taxes, the added burden of the MTA tax, and what could be done about it.

"Having knocked on hundreds of doors in the district, including businesses," he said, "I can confidently say that property tax and MTA tax relief are prime concerns of voters. I am declaring a property tax emergency in New York. People are leaving the state in droves because living in New York is no longer affordable, especially for seniors on fixed incomes."

"Seniors are leaving for states with lower taxes, like Florida," said William J. La Pierre, owner of Clark Funeral Home. "We are struggling and need tax relief if businesses are to survive. The MTA tax is yet another slap in the face to business owners, enough is enough."    

During Tuesday's, August 10, town board meeting Yorktown Councilman Terrence Murphy submitted a resolution to be passed which would have Yorktown join forces with several counties and towns in the lawsuit against the MTA Payroll Tax.

"This is the first time I've had to think about laying off people, despite going to a four day work week and taking two pay cuts myself," said Mr. La Pierre, who grew up next door to the funeral home, which has been a family business since 1955.

Mr. La Pierre said he pays $85,000 a year in property taxes, and is now being hit with paying $1,200 per quarter of MTA tax in addition. His revenues are down to $100,000 per year.

"Our family can no longer afford to stay in New York," Louise Rooney of Carmel said in a statement. "We will be leaving the state for  North Carolina in two years."

There is no state income tax in Florida, and North and South Carolina, Katz said. Katz said high taxes are hurting small business owners as well as residents.

Here is what Katz called for the following to be implemented in a statement:

• "Seniors are being taxed out of their homes, we must immediately freeze their property taxes. Retirees living on a fixed income cannot make ends meet when taxes continue to rise substantially year after year."
• "I am calling for a five year moratorium on property tax increases. Other states have done exactly that, and it works. High taxes equal high spending, and it's far beyond time to get spending in line. Furthermore, we most move away from the current system that assumes one's home value is a good indicator of their wealth."
• "I support legislation and litigation opposing the MTA payroll tax and will seek to repeal it, retroactively, immediately. This tax is killing small business owners and the self employed. I am calling for a forensic accounting of the MTA budget; we need to know where hard earned tax payer money is going. "
• "Finally, I am calling for an independent audit of this year's budget."