Teachers' Union Preparing to Hold a Grudge on Tax Cap

ALBANY—The state teachers' union said it is prepared to take the same measures this legislative session as last in fighting against a cap on property taxes.

Dick Iannuzzi, president of New York State United Teachers, just told me that the final report of the Commission on Property Tax Relief didn't contain many big surprises, but retained what he called the "major red flag"--a four percent annual limit on property tax increases.

"If we're discussing a property tax cap that does nothing to help balance the budget, then we're diverting our attention," he said, referring to the additional cuts schools will face when state aid is slashed, which Paterson promises will be next year. The governor also supports the tax cap.

Last summer, NYSUT ran advertisements against the proposed cap and withheld endorsements from senators who voted in support of it. "Obviously there's two years until these people run again, but our members would have strong opinions going forward about anyone who supported legislation that would impede a local district's ability to provide for the education of its students," he said. "Regardless of party. The record shows that that's how we've acted in the past."

That could mean trouble for Democratic senators, since tentatively incoming Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith supports a cap. Yesterday said in a statement, Smith said he believes taxpayers will benefit from "the enactment of a voter controlled tax cap which allows school districts to reduce excessive costs and control their own spending while maintaining the highest standards of education."

A spokesman for Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said the commission's report is "under review."