New survey finds that Land Value Taxation has majority support statewide
NEW YORK, NY — The Community Service Society of New York (CSS), in partnership with the Progress and Poverty Institute, the Center for Land Economics, and the Fiscal Policy Institute, today released a new brief, NY Renters and Homeowners Want Property Tax Reforms Now. Drawing on CSS’s 2025 Annual Survey of Housing and Economic Security, the report finds that New Yorkers across the state are calling for a fundamental shift in how property is taxed to address the state’s affordability crisis.
The report demonstrates broad public support, both city and statewide, for property tax reform, and specifically singles out the authorization of Land Value Taxation (LVT) as done in bill A.3339B/S.1131B. An LVT shifts the property tax burden from the building to the land, leading to more fairness and efficient use of precious high-value space. The survey results are a clarion call for state policymakers and City Hall to finally address the fifty years of NYC overtaxing tenants and low-income communities of color.
Key Findings
- Majority Support for Land Value Tax (LVT): Fifty-two (52) percent of New Yorkers statewide support shifting the tax burden from buildings to land value to discourage speculation and encourage housing construction. When excluding “unsure” respondents, support for LVT exceeds 80 percent across the state.
- Widespread Perception of Inequity: New Yorkers across income levels and housing tenures view the current system as unfair. Notably, 51 percent of higher-income residents and 59 percent of Manhattanites—the primary beneficiaries of current condo/co-op valuation loopholes—support reforming those assessments to ensure high-value units pay their fair share.
- Renters Recognize the “Hidden Tax”: Ninety-three (93) percent of market-rate renters in NYC understand that property tax increases are passed on to them by landlords. This underscores that property tax reform is not just a homeowner issue but a critical factor in renter affordability.
This survey brief builds off the findings of the March 2025 joint report, Footing the Bill, which documented how New York City’s tax structure has historically overtaxed tenants and low-income communities of color while allowing land speculators to remain lightly taxed. While previous attempts to overhaul the system have stalled under previous administrations, Mayor Zohran Mamdani campaigned on addressing inequities in the city’s property tax structure. Against this backdrop, and with Albany seeking to address affordability for everyday New Yorkers, the authorization of a Land Value Tax—and other changes—represents a shift away from structural features where speculators win while working families pay the bill.
Read the rest here: https://www.cssny.org/news/entry/new-york-renters-and-homeowners-want-property-tax-reforms-now