Tkaczyk wants tax relief for flood victims


Democratic Sen. Cecilia Tkaczyk of Duanesburg is promoting a bill that would allow lower reassessments for those in Montgomery County who have been hit with flooding this summer.

It’s notable given the possibility of a summer legislative session that may be called in order to deal with the flood damage. If that happens, expect other localized tax-relief initiatives for flood victims beyond Montgomery County and the 46th Senate District.

Here are the details of Tkaczyk’s proposal:

State Senator Cecilia Tkaczyk has introduced legislation that would aid property owners in flood-ravaged portions of her Senate District.


 Senator Tkaczyk said, “Under the current law, property owners would still have to pay taxes based on the pre-flood condition and value of their property, which is simply not fair. My legislation would lower their tax bill to compensate for the decreased value of their property.”

Under the Flood Assessment Relief Act of 2013, property owners, both homeowners and businesses, would be able to seek a reassessment from the local Board of Assessment Review, and local assessors would be authorized to request assessments of seriously damaged home be based on the property’s after-flood value.

Senator Tkaczyk said she began preparing the legislation after touring Fort Plain the day after the flooding, which damaged or destroyed more than 250 homes.  

The measure would hold school districts harmless for the loss of STAR reimbursement by the state as a result of lowered assessments. Senator Tkaczyk also wants the State to take further action to reimburse local governments for lost tax revenue.

 “It is important that we provide immediate relief to the property owners who have been hit the hardest,” she said. “But we have to ensure that local governments are not  doubly saddled with the cost of recovery as well as the loss of revenues from sales tax, property tax and other sources.”

Senator Tkaczyk is hoping the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) declares the flooded regions of the State a disaster area, which would open the door to federal assistance for recovery efforts. She supports Governor Cuomo’s decision to call the Legislature back to Albany to deal with the crisis if FEMA does not act.

  1. Pension Holder says:

    I hate to say this but if taxes go down who will pick up the slack……Oh I know the rest of us since we are not taxed enough. How about removing the tax fee zones? How about a TOTAL REPEAL OF THE SAFE ACT that will save tons of money. How about the legislators skipping some of thier pay to help?

  2. bill says:

    We all want tax relief senator, why not give everyone a tax break instead of just a few?

  3. ACS says:

    Does Cici have the slightest idea what is going on?

  4. Snapdragon says:

    At the risk of sounding like Scrooge, the flood victims really need to think about moving to a safer location. Almost two hears after Irene and how many people are still waiting to rebuild? Government will not reroute creeks and streams, build levees and retaining walls, or jack up foundations. Cuomo will not swallow his ego and beg Obama for the needed financial help (they don’t like each other). You can’t cash a photo op.

  5. Carl says:

    SnapDragon Obama and Cuomo get along fine. I’ve seen them together in private and they were very chummy with each other.

    I don’t care for the SAFE act but will you stop crying about it with every single issue that comes up? Flooding and SAFE act have nothing in common.

  6. Pension Holder says:

    Maybe your right but the gun owners are not forgetting what was done to them and we will keep harping till it is repealed and put up like a real law. Also I’m not crying I’m letting the legislators and gov know we are here and not going away.

  7. K2 says:

    So if my house were to burn to the ground I would be liable for the full amount of taxes owed based on my assessment, yet if I chose to live near a river/stream/brook and it floods we should adjust those assessments so the homeowner doesn’t pay the full price? Typical, penalize the person who lost their home to a fire they had no control over yet try and reward the person who chose to live near a waterway that can flood.

  8. Jim says:

    Nice idea. Maybe Governor Andrew Cuomo can redirect some of that Tax Free Money given to businesses to help flood victims, or higher a few less political cronies or contractors?

  9. Snapdragon says:


    Where in my comment did you see a reference to the SAFE Act?

  10. Lola Beedo says:

    history’s not my strong point.
    but wasn’t there some gov’t. magic performed out in bethlehem years back, to reroute the normanskill creek?
    i seem to remember a fruit stand sliding down the hill after a landslide. and a good slice of delaware ave. was either threatened, or went down with it.

  11. sammy says:

    Sen. Tkaczyk is calling for fairness for people who have been victims of flooding. And the Republican commenters are trying to find some twisted logic to oppose her. It seems to me that the Republicans simply can’t stand when a strong progressive Democrat does anything right.
    I applaud Sen. Tkaczyk, & I encourage here to keep speaking out for those in need. As they say, the “T” is silent, but the Senator is not!

  12. Snapdragon says:


    A more recent, and far more expensive, example of government moving at warp speed is the recent relocation of Washington Ave extension to accomodate the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering’s plans for a new building. The flood victims need their own version of “Dr. No” to grease the skids and twist arms.

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