Taxes & Public Finance Overview

Policy Issues

Taxes & Public Finance

Taxes & Public Finance Overview

Taxes & Public Finance on Long Island

Long Island has some of the highest property taxes in the country. These are due to the large resources used by the school districts. This is also because of the number of special districts on Long Island. In a study done by the Long Island Index of 810 Long Islanders, 89 percent said that property taxes should be reduced by, on average $3,000. They were also willing to consider significant changes to their life style and the services they receive to lower their taxes. School taxes account for about 70 percent of all property taxes.

About half the people polled supported putting a cap on the amount of money school districts can raise from local property tax. A proposal New York State is now looking at would cap property tax increases at 4 percent which if passed, would force school to cut back on spending. Many believe that taxes would be much lower if special districts were consolidated or even eliminated totally. Public finance is also used to do many public works projects. They are used in grants given to researchers as well as activists to help make Long Island a better place. Throughout Long Island towns and villages are raising taxes in order to meet their needs in times of economic hardship.

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Taxes & Public Finance News

Levy: Time to Privatize the State's Pension System and End Overtime Abuse - July 9, 2010

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy called upon the State Legislature to pass radical reforms to the state's pension system to prevent its collapse, and to end abuses of the system through excessive overtime.

Landmark Wall Street Reform Passes With Bishop's Support - June 30, 2010

Congressman Tim Bishop voted today to pass a historic Wall Street reform bill that ends taxpayer bailouts of big banks and will help prevent the risky financial practices that led to the financial meltdown of 2008.

Bishop Introduces Bill To Fight Outsourcing And Tax Evasion - June 29, 2010

Congressman Tim Bishop introduced legislation to crack down on overseas tax havens, promote American job creation, and reduce the federal deficit.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy’s Capital Budget Vetoes Save $40 Million over Three-Year Capital Program - June 21, 2010

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy today issued his vetoes of the Legislature’s amendments to his 2011 capital budget program. In vetoing the majority of the additions from the Legislature, Levy said he is conforming to his fiscally conservative approach that has led to his capital budgets typically being lower than the previous year’s capital budget.

Senator Flanagan Unveils “Homeowner Protection and Property Tax Rebate Act” - March 17, 2010

Senator John Flanagan (2nd Senate District) joined with the other members of the Senate Republican Conference to unveil the “Homeowner Protection and Property Tax Rebate Act,” a major new tax cut initiative aimed at protecting the taxpayers of New York State.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy to Host Meeting with Schools on Consolidation of Services - August 26, 2009

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy announced that he will be hosting a meeting of superintendents and school board leaders from throughout the 69 school districts in Suffolk County for the purpose of discussing methods by which the County can facilitate the combining of non-educational functions which are germane to all of the districts within the county.

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