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Q&A
Challenges in implementing property tax reform
4:13:32
ยท
72 sec
Councilmember Brannan questions why the mayor is hesitant to address property tax reform, and Comptroller Lander provides insights on the political challenges involved.
- Property tax reform has potential winners and losers, making it politically difficult
- A previous commission showed that reform could benefit about 75% of people, with 10-15% paying more
- Lander suggests that political leaders have 'chickened out' rather than addressing the inequitable and confusing system
- He expresses hope that the next mayor will propose real property tax reform in their first year
Justin Brannan
4:13:32
Why do you think the mayor is so afraid to tackle property tax reform?
Brad Lander
4:13:41
It's funny.
4:13:41
You know, you and I have been at this a long time, and, you know, it is one of those challenges that has some winners and some losers.
4:13:50
The thing is the way that the prior mayor, who had the courage to file his proposal for reform three days before the end of his second term, that commission did show that you could make it, you know, more or less, let's say, 75% winners, 15 10 or 15% people who have to pay more, including myself, and then the remainder of the people neutral.
4:14:14
But but, unfortunately, he and others have just chickened out rather than go forward and say, this is a system that's inequitable.
4:14:23
It's a system that's so random and confusing that we don't really have good handle on our core tax.
4:14:31
And I hope the next mayor will, in their first year in office, go up to Albany and put a proposal on the table for real property tax reform and have an honest conversation with New Yorkers.
Jacques Jiha
4:14:43
Yeah.