April 2006

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:  DAVID LOUIS, TOWN SUPERVISOR, 756-6671


SCHOOL PROPERTY TAX REFORM RALLY SCHEDULED FOR MAY 6th

The New Baltimore Town Board, in conjunction with numerous municipalities throughout the State of New York, will sponsor a School Property Tax Reform Rally to be held on Saturday, May 6th, at 12:00 noon at the New Baltimore Town Hall on County Route 51 in Hannacroix. 

Taxpayers across New York State will gather to demand an end to the use of property taxes to fund the local share of education costs, replacing this unfair tax burden with an equitable tax system that is based upon a taxpayer's ability to pay.

The New Baltimore Town Board has previously adopted several resolutions in support of school property tax reform, most recently having coordinated with other towns which led to the adoption of a statewide resolution by the Association of Towns of the State of New York calling on an end to the unfair burden of local property taxes to fund the local share of education.

Speaking on behalf of the New Baltimore Town Board, Supervisor David Louis noted, "the lion's share of property taxes paid in the Town of New Baltimore go to school taxes, and the annual increases and high taxes are driving older residents and others with limited incomes out of their homes.  The property tax system of funding local education is totally unfair, and must be replaced by a more equitable financing source, preferably income taxes, which are a much better measure of a taxpayer's ability to pay." 

The New Baltimore Town Board encourages all taxpayers to attend this rally, where a petition will be circulated for signatures to be submitted along with other municipalities to State Legislators and State leaders in Albany.