County Executive Steve Levy Says New Searchable Database from Empire Center and Public Policy Institute Show Suffolk Holding Line on Taxes

A new online database compiled by the Empire Center for New York State Policy and the Public Policy Institute shows Suffolk County with the third-lowest Effective Property Tax Rate in New York State, said Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy.

“Controlling property taxes by providing services more efficiently is the critical mission of county governments,” Levy said. “In Suffolk, we continue to demonstrate that we can maintain and even improve delivery of our core mission services without strapping taxpayers financially.”

According to the searchable database, available at the “benchmarks” tab on www.SeeThroughNY.net, Suffolk has an Effective Property Tax Rate* of 0.18% -- third lowest in the state – while ranking in the middle of the pack (20th statewide, and 4 out of 7 regionally) in expenditures per capita for county governments.

The average Effective Property Tax Rate for the seven downstate counties is 30%.

Since taking office in 2004, Levy has consistently presented operating budgets that contain no General Fund increases and has held the Police District Fund within tax cap parameters. Levy’s 2009 proposed operating budget, before amended by the County Legislature, froze county taxes on all levels and cut overall spending by $125 million to 2006 levels.

Levy’s conservative budget management practices have brought Suffolk six bond rating increases throughout his administration, attaining historically high levels which have been affirmed even after last falls’ national economic downturn.

“In these rough economic times, it is more important that we work towards maintaining our low property tax rate and allow residents to continue to be able to afford their own homes,” he said.

*Effective Real Property Tax Rate is calculated by total amount of revenue raised through real property taxes divided by full value.

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