Gov. David Patterson visited the home of Bill and Adriene Flynn in Dobbs Ferry this afternoon to promote property tax cap legislation, which, if passed, would limit annual school tax increases to 4 percent.

But Anna Sterne, president of Dobbs Ferry’s school board, said the tax cap plan would be unworkable unless costs were also capped. She said limiting tax increases without reigning in costs could harm programs.

“Cap mandates, cap health insurance, cap energy costs while you’re at it,” Sterne said at the governor’s press conference. “They’re killing us.”

Standing next to the Flynns, who said their property tax bill has risen 40 percent in 12 years, the governor said New Yorkers are being crushed by their tax burden.

“This is a plight that is replicated around this state everywhere I go,” Patterson said. “People are getting more and more frustrated.”

Adriene Flynn said 10 percent of her husband’s income goes to paying their tax bill, mostly school taxes.

“We live here because the schools are the best,” said Adriene Flynn, who supports the governor’s plan if it’s implemented in a way that doesn’t harm education. “But it’s a struggle.”

Dobbs Ferry is the third stop on the governor’s statewide tour to promote the tax cap, which faces some opposition in Albany because, some say, it doesn’t adequately address the need for more state aid and the removal of onerous mandates on school districts.

Read more about this story in tomorrow’s The Journal News.