Marc Molinaro promised to make the state’s property tax cap permanent if he’s elected governor and to use revenues from sports betting to drive down property taxes.
The Republican candidate took a shot at Democrat Cynthia Nixon, who said earlier this week that she would give localities more leeway to raise property taxes.
“She’s wrong,” Molinaro said, adding that high property taxes hurt the economy and are a top reason people leave New York for other states.
The cap limits property tax increases to 2 percent, unless 60 percent of voters in a jurisdiction approve a hike.
Molinaro also said he would raise a proposed 8.5 percent tax on sports betting and use that to lower property taxes.
“Any revenue needs to go in a locked box and those dollars need to be used to drive down property taxes and education,” he said.
Molinaro also vowed to run for only two terms, as Gov. Cuomo seeks his third term.
The two-term, 8-year limit would apply to all other statewide offices, while legislators would get to serve 12 years.
He said that change would help curb Albany’s “culture of corruption” and would be the first piece of legislation he proposes.
Molinaro is also calling for an end to campaign contributions from companies that seek or obtain state contracts, which he says will end “pay to play.”
“I don’t even think you should have no-bid contracts at the state level,” he said.
Abbey Fashouer, a campaign spokeswoman for Gov. Cuomo, said he has been pushing for years to make the tax cap permanent and has also called for term limits.
“We welcome Trump mini-me Molinaro to this effort,” she said.