Delaware considers joining tax reform taskforce

NY groups are searching for an alternative method to fund schools

By TOM KANE

HORTONVILLE, NY — The Town of Delaware is considering joining a property tax reform taskforce that has been initiated by the Ulster County towns of Marbletown, Rochester, Rosendale and Warwarsing.

At their monthly meeting on March 15, Delaware officials tabled the adoption of a resolution supporting the taskforce for one month until they identify local citizens who wish to serve on the taskforce.

“Serving on this taskforce will take a lot of time for anyone volunteering,” said councilman Kevin Connors.

The taskforce, which is searching for an alternate method to fund schools, is being supported and encouraged by the Association of Towns of the State of New York.

“The association sent a letter and a sample resolution to all 932 towns in New York State because it believed the issue of property tax and school funding reform was worthy of concern,” said Judith Gustafson, chairwoman of the Ulster group. “The association was also willing to support the efforts of the Property Tax Reform Taskforce to build a network of towns and citizens to encourage and support tax relief efforts, especially at the state level.”

“The escalation in local property taxes that our towns are experiencing is primarily driven by the school budget,” said G. Jeffrey Haber, association executive director. “It currently accounts for about 80 percent of total property taxes and, in Marbletown specifically, the school levy has increased more than 65 percent in the past six years.”

Many towns have already enacted the suggested resolution, and some have enlisted the participation of other local groups to push elected officials in Albany to address the issue, Gustafson said. “Towns as far away as Plattsburg and Ticonderoga have joined the effort to motivate Albany legislators to take action to solve this problem,” she said.

The loosely organized groups, who seek a change in school funding, plan to hold a major rally in Albany some time in May, Gustafson said.

Sullivan County legislator Rodney Gaebel, who attended the Delaware meeting, expressed pessimism along with several town councilors that a solution to the problem of school taxes will be solved anytime soon.

“This is an issue that has been kicked around for years without a solution,” Gaebel said.