The governor’s recently announced $1.7 billion property tax credit plan is not as good as it might seem at first glance, according to an Assemblyman who represents southwestern St. Lawrence County.

Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R-Black River), whose 117th District includes the towns of DeKalb, Gouverneur, Hermon, Russell, Edwards, Fowler and Pitcairn, says one problem arises out of a provision that would give the credit to people whose property taxes equal more than six percent of their income but only to those who live in a municipality that adhered to the two percent tax cap.

“This is just one of the issues I see with this program,” Blankenbush said in a press release.

“This program is anticipated to be paid with a projected $2 billion surplus in the future. Before we dive in, we must know: How was this figure derived? Was the expected rise in the state’s healthcare and education costs factored in? In this instance, I would advise the governor to adhere to a simple adage: Don't count your chickens before they hatch.

“While well meaning, there seems to be a lot of what-ifs and clauses in order to realize important relief,” he said. He said that Bob Megna, the governor’s budget chief, said the program benefits would be focused downstate and renters would be benefiting too.

“Where does this leave Upstate?” the assemblyman asked.

“The governor’s plan, simply put, misses the point – all homeowners are hurting and deserve property tax relief.

Blankenbush said he would prefer broader tax relief “in the form of cuts for all New Yorkers. Between this proposal and the previous tax freeze program that cut checks to homeowners with families, the governor has made a habit of picking winners and losers when it comes to property taxes.”

He said a more pressing fiscal issue is “that we must cut taxes and remove the unfunded state mandates on municipalities and schools that drive up taxes in the first place. Let’s find ways to provide relief for the entire state, not just advantageous geographical political allies,” he said.