NY Property Taxes

I just read an article lamenting the fact that 25% of NY property is exempt from taxes.  This is due, to a large extent, to properties such as universities, churches, government buildings, etc.  In some counties (e.g. Tomkins County) the tax exempt percentage is as much as 40%.  To this, the Tompkins County Administrator states: "You do try to pay 100% of your bills with 60% of the tax base."

HANG ON A MINUTE!!!!  These tax exemptions are not new!!  You, the government, decided to grant the tax exemptions in order to encourage whatever "business" you granted them to.  You should have based your BUDGET (and therefore your bills) an the tax base of ACTUAL non-exempt property.  Don't blame high property taxes on tax exemptions that YOU agreed to.  You are trying to pay 100% of the bills with 100% of the tax base you knew you had.