Gov. Cuomo vowed Tuesday to aggressively push for state tax cuts next year — casting further doubt on Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio’s plan to raise city income taxes on the wealthy.
“We have funds to do a tax cut,” Cuomo boasted on the “Capitol Pressroom” radio show in Albany, “and I want to focus on the property taxes.”
The governor described property taxes as a “crusher,” especially in the suburbs and upstate.
Cuomo said the budget plan he’ll introduce in January will have a surplus because the state has held the line on spending.
His comments came less than an hour after he stiff-armed questions about de Blasio’s proposal to boost income taxes on the wealthy to finance pre-K and after-school programs. The hike would require approval from state lawmakers,
Both the lawmakers and the governor are up for re-election next year, making it unlikely they’d be in the mood to raise taxes.
“The question becomes how to pay for it,” Cuomo said of de Blasio’s Robin Hood plan following a Thanksgiving food drive announcement at the Javits Center.
“I think what’s more important is to focus on what we want to get done, which is pre-K. We’ll figure out how to pay for it through regular financing vehicles. Some people are talking about tax increases, but that’s a conversation we’ll have next year with the Legislature,” he added.
Cuomo and the Legislature included funds in the current state budget to start full-day pre-K around the state, but only for 5,000 students.
Cuomo’s position marked the second consecutive day that de Blasio faced skepticism over his tax plan from one of his own political supporters.
On Monday, former Mayor David Dinkins, who hired de Blasio as a junior aide at City Hall in the early 1990s, questioned the chances of the tax hike getting approved.
Without much prompting, Dinkins told reporters de Blasio should adopt a a Plan B — restoring the city’s commuter tax, which would be an even tougher task in an election year.
De Blasio insisted his plan to generate $ 500 million a year from higher taxes on those earning $ 500,000 or more is not incompatible with Cuomo’s call for state tax cuts.
“There’s clearly a debate going on in terms of the different state taxes. I think it’s obviously the governor’s prerogative . . . I respect that,” de Blasio said.
“I’m talking about the right of New York City residents to make this decision for themselves . . . so we can do better by our children.”
Yahoo Local News – New York Post
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