Lawmakers should reject a property tax cap unless it is part of a broader package to attack rising education costs, said the vice chancellor of the state Board of Regents and member of the Property Tax Cap Commission.

In an interview with the New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA), Merryl Tisch, who abstained from endorsing the Commission’s recommendations, said she was concerned that lawmakers might adopt a cap and ignore other proposals to curtail unfunded mandates and provide school districts with new tools to fight rising costs.

“You have to, every once in awhile, stand up and say let’s not go for an easy fix,” Regent Tisch told On Board Senior Writer Marc Humbert.

Click here for the article.

Regent Tisch’s comments echo the concerns of school board members throughout the state. “It is imperative that lawmakers attack the primary source of rising property taxes: skyrocketing costs beyond the control of school board members,” said NYSSBA Executive Director Timothy G. Kremer. “Only a comprehensive approach that involves cost containment, adequate state aid and a targeted circuit breaker will address the many forces driving property taxes upward and provide long-term relief to taxpayers.”

Legislation proposed by the governor includes a tax cap without addressing rising cost drivers.

“Especially in light of today’s dwindling state resources, imposing a cap on local, voter-supported property taxes will remove the one discretionary option that schools have to raise revenues needed to meet rising costs,” added Kremer. “If school boards are unable to cover their costs, they will have to cut educational programs that are good for kids and critical to our state’s future.”

(Press release courtesy of David Alber/the New York State School Boards Association.)