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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From the Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. (EDITED)October 3, 2013:

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo  announced Wednesday the New York State Tax Relief Commission that will identify way to reduce the State’s property and business taxes to provide relief to New York’s homeowners and businesses.  The Commission’s recommendations will be due by December 6, 2013 for inclusion in the Governor’s 2014 State of the State message.

“The responsible budgets and fiscal reforms put in place over the last three years have put the state in a position to seriously tackle the ‘tax capital’ mentality that for too long has driven businesses and families from New York,” Governor Cuomo said.

“The new Tax Relief Commission includes two of our state’s most respected leaders, former Governor Pataki and Comptroller Carl McCall, as well as other highly-qualified New Yorkers who will examine new ways that we can reduce the burdensome taxes facing our businesses and our families, and by doing so make our state more competitive and fuel economic growth. I look forward to receiving the Commission’s recommendations this December so we can include measures in next year’s legislative agenda to help bring further relief to New York’s taxpayers.”

Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino welcomed the formation of the Commission in Wednesday evening’s County Executive Debate, and issued this statement earlier Wednesday:

“I am glad Governor Cuomo recognizes that New Yorkers are in dire need of tax relief and I welcome the commission’s involvement in lowering property taxes across the state. Any meaningful effort to bring tax relief must start with state mandates. In Westchester, 85 cents of every dollar of the county’s property tax levy currently goes directly to Albany to pay for just nine of the state’s unfunded mandates. If the commission is serious about tax reform, it must deliver mandate relief to school districts and local governments.”

The Tax Relief Commission is in addition to the Governor’s efforts to streamline New York’s tax code to make the state more affordable and competitive, ultimately creating jobs and helping grow the economy. The new Tax Relief Commission will collaborate with the Tax Reform and Fairness Commission, launched last December to conduct a comprehensive review of the State’s taxation policy, including corporate, sales and personal income taxation and make recommendations to improve and simplify the current tax system.

The Governor is charging the Tax Relief Commission with identifying new strategies to deliver tax relief to homeowners, renters, and businesses alike.

The Tax Relief Commission’s recommendations may include additional property tax relief, business tax relief proposals to encourage job creation and economic growth, as well as other ideas to reduce the tax burden on families and businesses that will make New York State more competitive with other states.

Chairman Carl McCall, Co-Chair of the Tax Relief Commission, said, “High taxes are one of the most challenging issues facing economic growth in New York. But as a former State Comptroller, I can say that New York is in the best fiscal shape it has been in in years because of the Governor’s constant efforts to control spending and bring jobs to New York. This commission has the opportunity to build on that success to lower taxes for middle class and working families. It is a privilege to be a part of this process as Democrats and Republicans work together to grow the state’s economy through a cooperative approach.”

Governor George Pataki, Co-Chair of the Tax Relief Commission, said, “Growing the economy and promoting a business climate that encourages job creation is one of the most important roles government can play. During the last few years in Albany, Governor Cuomo has demonstrated that when elected officials put politics aside and work together they can deliver results for the people of this state. In that vein, he has assembled a diverse panel that will work together towards a common goal: lowering taxes for New Yorkers in order to grow and develop our economy. I am proud to be part of that group and look forward to working with all my colleagues on the commission.”

The members of the Tax Relief Commission include:

• Dall Forsythe, former New York State Budget Director
• Jim Wetzler, Director, Deloite Tax LLP and former New York State Tax Commissioner
• Heather Briccetti, President & CEO of New York State Business Council
• Bill Rudin, CEO and Vice Chairman of Rudin Management Company and Chairman of the Association for a Better New York
• Jack Quinn, President of Erie Community College
• Denis M. Hughes, Senior Advisor at Brown & Weinraub, PLLC