The de Blasio administration has a new message on property tax reform: the buck stops with the next mayor.
That was the signal Deputy Mayor Vicki Been sent at a Crain's Business Breakfast event Tuesday morning, when confronted with the question of changing the city's levy system. For decades, tax laws have prevented assessments from rising more than 6% a year, even though property values in certain areas—such as Park Slope, where Mayor Bill de Blasio owns two houses—have increased far more. Advocates argue this has forced a disproportionate burden on rental buildings, commercial properties and houses in outer-ring neighborhoods which are more likely to belong to minority homeowners.
Been acknowledged that the present regime is "unfair," creates "enormous inequities" and obligates the city to use a huge toolkit of incentives to foster property development. But asked if changes were likely before de Blasio exits City Hall, Been answered in the negative.
"I don't know that that's realistic. I think the foundation can be laid," Been said. "Laying the foundation now makes it a topic that has to be front and center in the next mayoral election, and I think that's really important."
Ironically, de Blasio himself vowed during his initial 2013 mayoral campaign he would push changes to the excises on residential, office and retail structures. Last year, he and the City Council impaneled a commission to propose changes, most of which the state Legislature would need to approve.
Been described herself as "hopeful" about the forthcoming recommendations of the commission, which she headed before becoming deputy mayor for housing in April.
"I think that it's important to have those kind of concrete, very well considered proposals out on the table, so that the candidates for the next mayor have to confront those hard questions," she said.
This contrasts with the more dour note de Blasio himself sounded earlier this year, when he warned that changes to property taxes—which provide 45% of city revenues—could cut into quality-of-life and social spending.
City Council members from homeowner-heavy, deep-outer borough districts immediately registered their outrage at Been's comments, noting that they had anticipated action on the issue within the next two years.
“This is incredibly problematic, as the city council and many in the state legislature have been poised to move on this issue," said Staten Island Councilman Joseph Borelli, now the Republican candidate for city public advocate. "We understand the complexity of the problem, but assumed the administration was working in earnest, nonetheless.”