NORWICH – City officials at Tuesday night’s Common Council meeting unanimously agreed that the governor and members of the New York State Senate and Assembly must reform state mandates – including pension benefits and health insurance costs – which have led to dangerously high levels of property taxation for local residents and businesses.

Two of the largest components in every municipal budget – pension payments and health insurance costs – are increasing at exorbitant rates, stated the council, and in the case of pension costs, bills from the State Retirement System are estimated to increase by an average of 40 percent in both 2011 and 2012.

According to Mayor Joe Maiurano, that statistic represents an increase from about $50,000 per year to approximately $600,000 in 2012 if the issue isn’t addressed soon.

“It’s crucial at this time that the state, in order to keep local communities competitive for economic development, keep taxes down,” said Maiurano, who believes high tax rates are one of the biggest factors driving people out of New York. “We’re at the point now where there has to be property tax relief.”