In Albany, de Blasio pressed over property tax cap
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio got the full Albany treatment Tuesday as state lawmakers grilled him for five hours over his city’s finances and its status as the only local government in the state not subject to a cap on property taxes.
The Democratic mayor argued against the tax cap, saying his administration has found billions of dollars in savings and is committed to strengthening the city’s financial position. He also urged lawmakers to oppose a proposal by Gov. Andrew Cuomo to shift some Medicaid and higher education costs from the state to the city.
The tough questions reflected the belief of many Upstate and Republican lawmakers that New York City gets special treatment from Albany and a pass when it comes to the fiscal restrictions put on other communities, allowing it to build up billions in budget reserves while other communities cut back on services.