MASSENA -- The Massena village board on Tuesday passed a resolution opposing a proposal in Congress to eliminate the federal tax exemption for state and local tax payments.

“It equates to a tax raise. If you can’t deduct it, you’ve got to pay on it,” Mayor Tim Currier said before the board passed the resolution 3-0.

Trustee Tim Ahlfeld was not at the meeting. He works for the New York Power Authority and is in Puerto Rico doing relief in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.

The Post Standard reported on syracuse.com that St. Lawrence County taxpayers take an average exemption from sales, state, local and real estate taxes of $1,844. They cite the Washington, D.C.-based Tax Foundation as the source of the information. That story is at goo.gl/qwRfgn

The resolution the Massena trustees passed on Oct. 3 reads:

“Whereas, Congress is giving serious consideration to eliminating the federal income tax deduction for state and local taxes, and;

Whereas, this deduction, which has been in place for more than 100 years, is heavily utilized by residents of our community and our State; and

Whereas New York residents already pay more into the federal treasury than any government returns to New York;

Whereas the state and local tax deduction is a fundamental principal of federalism and without our residents would be faced with double taxation as they would be forced to pay federal income taxes on the taxes they pay to state and local governments;

Whereas this federal cost shift onto local governments would place extreme pressure on municipal budgets, including diminished revenue for essential local government investments, including public safety and infrastructure; and

Whereas increased federal taxation and reduced municipal services will harm our local housing market, decrease home values and erode our tax base,

Now therefore, be it resolved, that the Village of Massena Board of Trustees, by this Resolution expresses its strong opposition to any tax reform proposal that would eliminate the State and Local Tax (SALT) Deduction and urges Congresswoman Stefanik, Senator Schumer and Senator Gillibrand to join us publicly opposing any such proposal; and

Be it further resolved, that the Village Clerk is hereby directed to transmit copies of this Resolution to Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, Senator Charles Schumer and Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand.”