Which Political
Party Do You Trust With Your Taxes?
Eric Lerner
October 4, 2004
Republicans --locally as well as nationally -- enjoy striking a pose of fiscal conservatism. But Tompkins County's Democratic Legislature has been far more successful at controlling property taxes than the Republicans were. Let's look at the record.
I've been visiting the County Courthouse to excavate dusty old county budget documents. Before I say what I learned, I must remind you of some history. A Republican majority controlled Tompkins County government uninterruptedly from the Lincoln administration through 1993. In the 1993 election, the Democrats for the first time became the majority party, riding a wave of public anger over the growth of county taxes and fees. I'm proud to have been a part of that historic transition.
The twelve years since the Democrats took control, with first Stuart Stein, then Barbara Mink, and now Tim Joseph as Chair, have established a clear track record. Let's compare 12 years of Democratic County budgets (1995-2006) to the final 12 years of Republican budgets (1983-1994.)
The most straightforward measure of tax growth is to look at the tax levy, that is, the total amount of property tax in the County budget. The tax levy is influenced by changes in tax rate and assessments, as well as by new construction, and by properties moving onto or off of the tax rolls.
Here's the central truth:
Under the Democrats, the County property tax levy has grown by 98% in 12
years, while under Republican leadership, the tax levy grew almost three times
as fast: 273% in 12 years. The bar graph couldn't be clearer.*
|
|
|
|
Start |
End |
|
Republican 1982-1994 |
273.60% |
|
$4,476,257 |
$16,722,397 |
|
Democratic 1994-2006 |
98.00% |
|
$16,722,397 |
$33,103,414 |
Actually that graph makes the Republican record look better than it really is. A 1992 increase in the sales tax by a penny from 7% to 8% brought in about $6 million more in its first full year. And 1993's new Solid Waste Annual Fee raised another $2.5 million dollars. If those additional costs to taxpayers had been put on the property tax instead, the graph would get even more lopsided, with the Republicans' total increase showing more than 4 times the Democrats'.
|
Tax Levy Growth with Sales Tax Increase & Solid Waste Fee |
|
|
Republican 1982-1994 |
Democratic 1994-2006 |
|
|
1982 |
1994 |
2006 |
|
Property
Tax levy |
$4,476,257 |
$16,722,397 |
$33,103,414 |
|
Sales
Tax extra penny |
$0 |
$6,000,000 |
$8,700,000 |
|
Solid
Waste Annual Fee |
$0 |
$2,500,000 |
$2,900,000 |
|
Total |
$4,476,257 |
$25,222,397 |
$44,703,414 |
Why the big difference?
- The Democrats re-organized the County budget to provide clearer budget information and stronger accountability, and to require that all County programs play by the same rules at budget time.
- The Democrats strengthened performance review and measurable objectives for the County's hundreds of programs.
- The Democrats supported innovative approaches that reduce long-term costs for the public, including alternatives to incarceration, curbside recycling, and social services preventative programs.
- The Democrats strengthened County support for TCAD and economic development that builds the county tax base while restraining sprawl.
Republicans today, just like twenty-four years ago, are urging lower taxes combined with more spending on Sheriff and Highways. Then and now, they have trouble grasping the fact that those are the county's largest and most expensive non-mandated programs. Spending more on the big programs while trying to cut smaller programs is no strategy for reducing spending. Sheriff and Highway programs are of course essential. But like all other county programs, they must plan thoughtfully and budget carefully. Controlling taxes means controlling the large expenses, not just the small ones.
In this year's election, Republican candidates are again talking tough on property taxes. The "borrow and spend" policies of the Bush administration are a reminder of Republican bogus fiscal conservatism. Local Republicans' record on taxes shows us what to expect from them. Let's not be fooled again.
Next time you hear a Republican candidate glibly promote reducing property taxes by spending more on Sheriff and Highway, ask him about the Republican record on property taxes. And next time you meet a Democrat on the county legislature, say "Thank you".
Eric Lerner was chair of the County Budget & Fiscal Policy Committee, 1994-95.