Madden, Kinskey Discuss Property Tax Relief Idea

Property tax relief is a hot topic for this year’s legislative session, with many ideas put forth to help homeowners in the state.

State Senator Dave Kinskey recently gave a preview of this year’s legislative session to the Buffalo City Council, where former State Representative Mike Madden, now a city councilman, forwarded an idea for the legislature to consider.

Madden said changing the assessment ratio may solve the problem.

Kinskey added it sounds more sensible than other suggestions like a Proposition 13-style tax reform bill similar to California which would be disastrous and violate the State Constitution; or basing property taxes on what the homeowner paid for the property, which would take a Constitutional amendment, with taxpayers possibly seeing relief in two or three years.

Kinskey added, “I’ll take a look at that, Mike. That’s a good catch.”