Rabbitt says property taxes are ‘not a topic, but a crisis'

Monroe -Assemblywoman Annie Rabbitt (R-C-Greenwood Lake) addressed a group of about two dozen people at the Monroe Senior Center last week to report on issues and answer questions affecting the region. She represents about 130,000 residents within District 97 ranging from Ramapo in the south to Walkill in the north and including the towns of Monroe, Warwick and Tuxedo. She listed as high on her agenda of concerns the ballooning school property tax. She said 1.2 million residents, unable to keep up with tax increases have left the state since 2000. “We have to have reform, all agree,” Rabbitt said. “This is not a topic; it’s a crisis. We need to learn how to do more with less. The key is to rein-in school spending.” Another priority Rabbitt mentioned is maintaining open, green spaces within the county, which she noted is the reason many people have settled here. Rabbitt recommended citizens petition the state for a community preservation bill. In response to Greenwood Lake Mayor Barbara Moore’s concern with school taxes, Rabbitt said: “The true solution is for the State of New York to take over the taxes. I believe the state should take ownership.”