Republican candidate for the 105th Assembly seat George Amedore announced his plan for property tax relief Monday, July 9.
Amedore announced his plan in front 140 Country Walk Road in Rotterdam. The home is in the first neighborhood Amedore helped build when he started working in his family’s business, Amedore Homes.
I talk to the people who live here, and their biggest concerns are the fact that there is a huge burden of property taxes that never gets better, Amedore said.
The thee-point plan would put a cap on property taxes to limit school and municipal tax increases to no more than the rate of inflation. The plan would eliminate unfunded mandates, which Amedore said are forced upon local school districts and municipal governments. Also, the plan would return Medicaid fraud recoveries back to homeowners in the form of rebate checks. Amedore said last year there was an estimated $4.5 billion in Medicaid fraud, which should be returned to those who pay the bills.
Amedore’s Democratic opponent Ed Kosiur said his experience in government as a county legislator proves that he is able to cut taxes through economic development and job creation.
`My opponent really has no experience in government and has never cut a tax in his life,` Kosiur said. `I have cut county taxes the past two years by making government more efficient and building up our economy saving tax payers more than $6 million while securing $200 million in private investment and creating 2,000 new jobs in Schenectady County.`
Amedore pointed out that Schenectady County homeowners pay the eighth highest tax rate in the nation, according to the Tax Foundation, which rates 775 of the country’s most populated counties.
`To often the American Dream of owning a home turns into a nightmare because of increasing property taxes,` Amedore said. `These people need relief, not excuses as to why they are always going up.`
Joseph and Terry Debrino live at the house where Amedore was speaking. Joseph Debrino said he moved into his house in 1994 and was paying $300 per month in property taxes. Now he pays $600 and expects to pay more due to the completion of Rotterdam’s revaluation project this year.
Debrino said he is a retired state worker living on a fixed income and said he wasn’t sure how long his family could stay in their house if taxes continue to rise.
`We love the home we live in, but we don’t love the property taxes,` Debrino said. `I think it is great the George is trying to do something about it.`
Debrino said Amedore has never been a politician, but has been a leader in the community and is brining a commitment with him to the state.
Amedore said he plans to work with the democratic majority in the Assembly to get his initiatives passed and said he would make his three-point `common sense` plan a priority if elected.
`It is not going to be done overnight, but I will work hard for the best interests of the people,` he said. “