© 2025 WRVO Public Media
NPR News for Central New York
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Local taxes in New York capped at 2% despite record inflation

Mike Groll
/
AP

For a second time this year, New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said property taxes will be capped at 2% this year, the highest local governments can raise taxes under state law. This news coming despite inflation being more than triple the cap.

In a report, DiNapoli calculates the inflation rate for local governments to be 7.2%. Still, by law, counties, towns, and villages can’t raise taxes by more than 2%. This the sixth time since 2012 that the cap has been reached. For most of the tax cap’s history, inflation has remained below 2%.

Under state law, governments seeking to exceed the 2% limit need at least 60% of voters to approve the budget.

DiNapoli said this is the highest inflation has been since the tax cap law was passed. He warned that as federal pandemic aid ends for local governments, this year will be especially hard for them to stay below the cap.

Copyright 2022 WSHU. To see more, visit WSHU.

Charles is senior reporter focusing on special projects. He has won numerous awards including an IRE award, three SPJ Public Service Awards, a National Murrow, and he was a finalist for the Livingston Award for Young Journalists.
Recent cuts to federal funding are challenging our mission to serve central and upstate New York with trusted journalism, vital local coverage, and the diverse programming that informs and connects our communities. This is the moment to join our community of supporters and help keep journalists on the ground, asking hard questions that matter to our region.

Stand with public media and make your gift today—not just for yourself, but for all who depend on WRVO as a trusted resource and civic cornerstone in central and upstate New York.