NYSUT recently launched a television and radio ad campaign to raise awareness of the "circuit breaker" approach to property tax relief.
A circuit-breaker prevents property taxes from "overloading" a household's budget by setting limits based on income - unlike the arbitrary, one-size-fits-all approach of the recently proposed tax cap.
In two recent polls, a majority of New Yorkers voiced support for a circuit-breaker as an alternative to the recently proposed property tax cap.
Television ad transcript
NEW YORK HOMEOWNER: "Albany's talking about property tax relief. Well they can't fool me. This so-called 'tax cap' is nothing but a gimmick. It's one-size-fits-all approach for school funding takes away local control. My taxes will still go up, and deep cuts to school programs will hurt our kids. There is a better idea. It's called a 'circuit-breaker,' and it would cut taxes for seniors and middle-class families... now. Sure sounds good to me."
Radio ad transcript
NARRATOR: "Here we go again! Another election-year gimmick out of Albany. This time it's a doozy! It's a disastrous property tax cap proposal that promises tax relief. But we're not getting the whole story. With a tax cap, public school would have lost almost $1.3 billion in local revenues over the last four years - and our kids would have paid the price. With larger classes, fewer teachers, and deep cuts to our music, vocational education and Advanced Placement. And the plans one-size-fits-all approach to funding takes away local control. It should be up to the voters in each local school district to decide what's best for their schools. There is a better idea. It's called a 'circuit-breaker,' and it would cut taxes for seniors and middle-class families without hurting our kids. Support a circuit-breaker. Support real property tax relief now."