North Country Sen. Patty Ritchie, R-Heuvelton, voted in favor of two pieces of legislation that would “ensure New York State lowers property taxes and reins in spending to benefit taxpayers.”

The bills overwhelmingly passed the state Senate.

Under one of the bills Sen. Ritchie supported, Senate bill (S1207), the state would eliminate the expiration date on its property tax cap and make the two-percent annual increase limit permanent. Historically, according to Ritchie, uncapped local property taxes have forced New Yorkers out of their homes and caused business—and jobs—to leave for other states. Since the cap was enacted in 2011, Ritchie says it has saved New York State taxpayers $23 billion—including more than $32 million for taxpayers in Jefferson, Oswego and St. Lawrence Counties.

In addition, Ritchie is urging her colleagues to reduce existing mandates on local governments and school districts, while also supporting a constitutional amendment to ban unfunded mandates.

The senator also voted in favor of Senate bill (S365), which would establish a spending growth cap, and also increases the maximum capacity of the state’s ‘rainy day’ reserve fund.

“Seen as a measure to protect New Yorkers from future tax hikes, this legislation would end a pattern of boom or bust budgets based on the state of the economy, by enacting a two-percent spending cap, a press release from Ritchie’s office said. “Furthermore, increasing the reserve fund maximum would also allow the state to use surpluses to address revenue decline in tough times.”

These two affordability-driven bills have been delivered to the state Assembly.

“Since joining the Senate, one of my very top priorities has been providing tax relief to New Yorkers,” said Ritchie. “I am hopeful the Assembly will act on these measures, which will help our state become a more affordable place to live, work and raise a family.”

The vote was on Jan. 9.