Poll: Most New Yorkers Want Property Tax Increase Cap

A poll shows more than 70% of New Yorkers in every region, in both parties, and in every demographic group support a cap on property tax increases that is already doomed in the Legislature.

(NY Sun) -- The Siena Research Institute poll found 74%of New Yorkers support Governor Paterson's proposed cap of 4% annual growth in local school and government taxes.

The Siena poll finds fewer than three in 10 believe a cap would hurt education, as teachers unions and lawmakers claim. And 67% said a tax cap is needed "to force school districts to budget and spend resources more carefully."

"It is clear no matter what argument you throw at them, voters said they want a cap. It is clear and loud," Steven Greenberg of the Siena poll said. "They are not buying the argument of opponents."

But lawmakers in the Senate's Republican majority and in the Assembly's Democratic majority apparently are. In its latest lobbying effort, the politically powerful New York State United Teachers union is calling the tax cap "disastrous" and "arbitrary" in a radio campaign.