Yonkers Insider: Press Release from Yonkers Councilmember Anthony Merante 6th District.

PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.

NEW YORK STATE “STICKS IT TO” YONKERS TAXPAYERS.

 It Underhandedly Reduced The Star Tax Credit Amount By 10% Causing Yonkers Property Taxpayers To Pay More. This After City Lawmakers. 

Adopted A 0% Tax Increase Budget.

 Yonkers, NY (July 21, 2021) - 6th District Councilmember and Chairman of the City Council Budget Committee Anthony Merante discovered this deceptive NYS move when examining a current tax bill received by a constituent. Merante a CPA, determined that the constituent was billed more because the State reduced the Star Tax Credit by 10%.

 Merante in a letter to the Yonkers NY State Delegation stated:

“I was disappointed, to say the least, when a constituent called and informed me that her tax bill had gone up approximately $100. I confirmed her calculations and, on Saturday July 17th when my tax bill arrived, I found that I received a $90 tax increase.” Merante added

“I find it appalling that the State punished Yonkers residents because they had a zero-tax increase. ln my estimation, the State has withheld approximately $5 million dollars from Yonkers property owners, and I want it back. I will be advocating for my constituents. All Yonkers property owners should demand that this injustice be restored especially as many individuals are still financially recovering from the Covid 19 Pandemic.”  Merante urged Yonkers taxpayers to call the State delegation and tell them "I want my money back."

Yonkers City Council Minority Leader Mike Breen shared Merante’s outrage. Breen said , “This backhanded move by the State comes at a time when State government coffers are flush with over $5 billion dollars in Pandemic funds it received from the Biden administration. This is a low and petty move on the part of the State to stick it to Yonkers taxpayers and will not go unaddressed.” Breen added, “We’re fortunate to have a CPA like Anthony Merante on the City Council who was able perform some financial forensics to track down the source of this increase.”