Bayport Family Advocates for Property Tax Cap

In the eight years since buying their Bayport home, Richard and Joanne Curley have seen their property taxes nearly double.

While the family has been forced to tighten their belts to remain in their home, the property tax cap proposal put forth earlier this by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and approved by the Republican-controlled state senate, gave them hope.

Thursday afternoon, the Curleys, who are nearly lifelong residents of Bayport, played host to a press conference on the front lawn of their Cinque Lane home as Long Island's state senate delegation sought to pressure the state assembly to bring the property tax proposal to vote.

If enacted, this legislation (S.2706) would place a cap on the growth of school property taxes at two percent or at the level of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is less.

On Jan. 31, the Senate approved legislation with bi-partisan support calling for a two percent property tax cap, but the Democratically-controlled Assembly has yet to vote on the bill, which has the support of Gov. Cuomo, a Democrat.

State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R, Rockville Centre) said the strict property tax cap is supported by 80 percent of New Yorkers and virtually every business organization in the state because they know it will result in finally putting the brakes on massive property tax increases.

As for the Curleys, their property taxes have increased 16.2 percent over the past three years, and the family’s total property tax bill now stands at $11,033.
If the property tax cap had been in place, the increase over the past three years would have been $343, instead of the $1,591 increase the family had to pay.

The Curleys said they are at a point in their lives when they should be enjoying the fruits of their labor, but their escalating property taxes make that difficult to do.
The Curleys said they want to know why the Assembly has yet to vote on the bill that Skelos said “is a priority in thousands of homes on Long Island where taxpayers are desperate for relief.”

“What’s the hold up?” Joanne Curley asked. 

While noting that she understand that taxes are a necessity, she feels the increases have spiraled out of control.

“We don’t mind paying our fair share, except when it’s unjust,” she said. “But my family needs this cap.”

If the cap is not enacted, the Curley’s said they will have to tighten their belts even more. “What else can we do?” Richard Curley said.

Leaving the community is not an option at this point; Joanne has lived in Bayport her entire life, and Richard almost as long.

“I grew up here, we have family ties,” Joanne said.

The goal for the Curleys is for Joanne to continue to stay at home and continue to home-school their children. The enactment of the cap on property taxes would make it easier for them to continue this way of life, they said.

“We urge people to contact their local Assembly representative (about the property tax cap issue),” Joanne Curley said.