Quinn vows not to raise city property taxes

Christine Quinn
Christine Quinn

As City Council Speaker Christine Quinn gears up for a mayoral run, she has made a frequently heard campaign promise: not to raise property taxes. “Any proposals to raise property taxes as part of next year’s budget discussion are off the table. I am not going to consider raising property taxes,” Quinn said yesterday at a news conference.

The pledge came after a statement earlier in the day that appeared to leave Quinn more flexibility on the issue. Quinn said, “It’s simply way too early to be taking options off the table, although I will do everything in my power not to raise property taxes.”

In 2009, Quinn had proposed to increase the city’s income tax on those making more the $300,000. She has now abandoned that position, possibly because Governor Andrew Cuomo has already raised state income taxes on those in high income brackets.

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However, Quinn did indicate that she might support a higher luxury tax, although no such tax increase is currently being proposed, according to the New York Daily News.

Quinn’s potential opponents in the upcoming election include, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, who supports raising taxes on those earning $500,000 or more, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer and city Comptroller John Liu, who supports a tax on millionaires. [NYDN]Christopher Cameron