March 29, 2016 

No question, politics at any level is all about it. The state budget process is taking the issue through the wringer. School budget talks are wrestling it to the floor. Taxes.

The mere mention of it sets off a visceral reaction in all of us. And why not? Look at your pay stub, and you see a big chunk of your weekly pay goes to someone else. Buy something, and in most cases there is a tax on it. Take a pulse of the state’s business climate, and high taxes are cited as a top deterrent.

Yet, do we want good public schools? Do we want a safe and efficient transportation system? Do we expect a police officer to answer our call for help? There are obviously some things that we are willing to be – gulp – taxed for.

So where is the disconnect? Well, a lot of it has to with basic fairness. Do we all pay our fair share, and how do we define it?

Then some of it has to do with a sense that we have no control.

As the tax topic remains at center stage, here are a few things to think about and help you decide how you can be more involved in the debate.

The tax cap

It appears to be working; the rate at which our taxes have risen has slowed down. We are on the right path, though it is clear adjustments to the cap will be needed along the way.

Sales tax

The New York state comptroller recently announced that 30 out of 57 counties saw a reduction in their sales tax revenue. Here’s an example of why that is: As gas prices go down, tax revenue also declines. Yet we need money to fix our roads and bridges. Is it time to raise the gas tax? Hell no, most of us say.

How about a few stickier issues?

The property tax

The highest portion is for our schools. In New York state, we already pay the highest cost per student – and some say we need to spend even more – and yet the outcomes are nowhere near number one. What are we willing to do?

State mandates

Local governments justifiably complain that Albany makes decisions that require counties to pay for them. Let’s fix it. If the program is created by Albany lawmakers and they are the only ones to vote on it, let’s place the cost in the budget of the branch that actually created it and then, at a minimum of five years, let them vote on whether to retain it.

IDAs and tax incentives

States compete with each other. So do counties. What if there were simply a level playing field and no one could offer real property tax breaks? Some might say, “But New York would be at a disadvantage, as our taxes are already higher.” We need to find other incentives or ways to attract business.

Everyone wants something. But are we willing to examine what we’re paying and decide if we are getting our money’s worth?

It often is easier to let someone else make the call on taxes and then complain. However, there is the option of becoming informed.

And that starts now, before votes are cast and decisions are made. Get involved!

Jonathan Drapkin is the president and CEO of Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress, a nonprofit research, policy and planning group that seeks regional solutions to increase the vitality of the region. He can be reached at .