Jimmy Vielkind reports in Politico that the Andrew Cuomo administration is using New York taxpayer money set aside for tourism and business promotion to air television advertisements telling residents they can pre-pay their property taxes. The Empire State Development corporation said the 30-second ad began airing Dec. 27, and run through Dec. 31. Jason Conwall, a spokesperson for the Empire State Development corporation, would not say how much taxpayer money is being spent on the seemingly political ads. Cuomo is a Democrat, who spent the last week of the year being interviewed by national television outlets about his criticisms of Republican Donald Trump's tax plan. “The governor has political messaging on this, and it’s quite consciously partisan and alarmist. This is related. ESD’s mission is to promote economic growth and attract business investment. This will effectively remind businesses that we have high taxes — as if they didn’t already know,” E.J. McMahon of the Empire Center said. “For most people, it’s like a consumer tip. … But he’s not trying to convey a consumer tip, it’s a political message. And what authority does ESD have to do a consumer tip? The Legislature ought to look at this — it has gone far enough.” But Conwall would not directly address the political charge. “This public education effort was launched in real time within a limited five-day window to ensure as many New York property taxpayers as possible knew they might benefit financially from prepayment,” he said in a statement. “Make no mistake: This federal legislation effectively raises taxes on New Yorkers and anyone claiming to be confused about the relationship between taxes and economic development shouldn't call themselves an expert.” Read the full story in Politico.