ALBANY - Governor David Paterson and Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi Thursday announced a series of public hearings on property taxes that will be convened across New York State. The six hearings will be led by County Executive Suozzi, chairman of the Commission on Property Tax Relief, and are designed to gather information on issues that the Commission identified as needing special consideration as it seeks to provide overdue relief to property owners and reduce local costs. In addition to expert testimony, each hearing will include a public forum to invite comments from other interested parties on the specific issues identified by the Commission.

The Commission’s Preliminary Report, release in June, identified several issues that require further study prior to the publication of its Final Report. These issues include: Special Education, School District Mandate Relief and the impact of property taxes on the Big Four Large City Dependent School Districts. The Final Report will be submitted by December 1, 2008.

“The Legislature met in August and passed separate measures to address one of the most critical issues facing our communities: property tax relief. The Assembly and Senate put separate proposals on the table, and now we have to close the gap between the two sides to get the relief that New Yorkers clearly need,” said Governor Paterson. “These hearings will further inform our discussions as we move forward to pass real relief for our overburdened taxpayers. New York’s inordinately high property tax burden is hurting our state’s the economy, forcing young families to leave, and leaving seniors in a position where they have few options but to sell their lifelong homes.”

The date, locations and targeted issues of the Commission hearings (subject to change) are:

• September 9 - Long Island
  Special Education & School District Mandate Relief
• October 2 - Albany
  Big Four Large City Dependent School Districts, Special Education & School District Mandate Relief
• October 22 – Yonkers
  Big Four Large City Dependent School Districts & School District Mandate Relief
• October 30 – Buffalo
  Big Four Large City Dependent School Districts & School District Mandate Relief
• November 5 – Rochester
  Big Four Large City Dependent School Districts & School District Mandate Relief
• November 12 – Syracuse
  Big Four Large City Dependent School Districts & School District Mandate Relief