We will propose a cap on property taxes for all school districts and local governments (counties, towns, villages, and special districts), set at the inflation rate or two percent, whichever is lower. Residents will retain local control and are empowered to override the cap with a 60 percent majority vote when an alternative proposal serves the best interests of the community.

We will immediately move to eliminate unnecessary mandates and propose a “sunset” bill requiring all unnecessary unfunded mandates be reevaluated within a two-year period of time and automatically eliminated unless the mandate is affirmatively renewed. We will veto legislative or regulatory mandates, unless they provide a complete accounting of the fiscal impact on school districts or local governments that includes full documentation, local government input and proposed revenue sources to fund the new mandates. Any new unfunded mandates should contain a “sunset” provision to ensure that the mandate does not continue to apply after its usefulness has passed.

We will automatically award grants of up to $100,000 to communities which successfully petition to reorganize, merge or dissolve their local government under the Government Reorganization and Citizens Empowerment Act. When municipalities merge or dissolve, they are eligible for additional State aid under the new “Empowerment Tax Relief”—50 percent of the additional aid would be given directly to the taxpayers in the affected communities for immediate tax relief. We will also create a Knowledge Network of academic institutions, financial sector and legal community to provide the tools to support citizens and local governments to put plans in place to maximize efficiencies and tax saving through consolidation and dissolution. Finally, we will eliminate provisions in law, such as the legal prohibition that towns cannot provide services, that result in increased costs and unnecessary duplication.

We will enact a statutory and constitutional spending cap that limits growth to the rate of inflation. Only in the event of extraordinary circumstances, may the Governor, with the agreement of a two-thirds supermajority of both houses of the Legislature, authorize spending in excess of the cap. We will not raise and will veto any increase in personal or corporate income taxes or sales tax. Moreover, budget surpluses produced by controlling spending will be used for direct property tax relief under a “circuitbreaker” plan.