Reports surfaced last month that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s girlfriend, Sandra Lee, had been evading taxes by failing to submit permits for significant renovation projects on the couple’s shared $1.2 million home.
Despite the insistence of Lee and a Cuomo aide that the projects were simply decorative in nature, the town assessor was barred from entering the home to make an accurate determination of the upgrades. As such, the town has increased the valuation on the home by 29%, which will increase the Cuomo household’s estimated taxes by over $8,000 annually.
It could have been worse had it not been for Cuomo’s opponent, Republican Rob Astorino.
See, the property is located on Bittersweet Lane, which is in Westchester County. As in the county where Executive Rob Astorino has either cut or kept the property taxes level for several years straight.
Via Westchester County:
For the fifth straight year, Astorino pledged not to increase the county property tax levy. Astorino has either cut, or held flat, the tax levy each year he has been in office. In the five years prior to Astorino taking office the tax levy was increased by 17 percent.
“The payoff for taxpayers is that we have remained true to our word,” Astorino said. “We promised tax relief and we’re delivering it.”
That is tax relief that Governor Cuomo and his girlfriend directly benefitted from, despite trying an end run around their tax debt.
Via the New York Post:
But the news is not all bad. The governor and his lady love live in Westchester where, unlike most of the state, property taxes have actually been cut these past fear years. So their increase is less than it might have been.
And for that, the Lee-Cuomos should thank the governor’s rival in this year’s race: Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino.
At least in this instance, the governor is lucky that one conservative, tax-lowering extremist didn’t wear out his welcome in New York.
When can we expect a statement of thanks from the governor?
Cross-posted at the Mental Recession
