During an interview with News 12, Gov. Andrew Cuomo encouraged Westchester lawmakers to allow its residents to prepay taxes – saying that it makes "great economic sense" before the GOP tax overhaul goes into effect on Jan. 1. 

"My job is to protect New Yorkers. As soon as the president signed the bill, I signed an executive order saying to local government 'stay open, do the accounting, tell people what they owe, so they can prepay their property taxes this year before Jan. 1 and still get the deduction," says Gov. Cuomo. 

Rockland County lawmakers approved warrants Wednesday allowing towns to collect residents' 2018 property taxes. Soon after, a line had formed at Clarkstown Town Hall with residents anxious to pay and reap the maximum deductions possible before the tax plan caps them at $10,000.

"Westchester County has the highest property taxes in the country, so it makes great economic sense for people to [prepay]," said the governor. "I understand that Westchester County has not yet decided to participate. What I've said to local governments is 'I know it's the holiday season. I know people are vacationing and busy. But this makes a big difference to New York taxpayers." 

The governor said Westchester County residents could be facing a 20 to 25 percent property tax increase next year. 

"It is going to decimate people in Westchester," he said.