Impose a state cap on school property taxes

The time has come for school property tax cap/elimination.

Seventy-two percent of New Yorkers support school property tax relief, two-thirds reject the argument that a cap would hurt education, New York state property taxes are 79 percent higher than the national average, businesses are leaving the state, people are leaving the state, the list goes on and on.

Lobbyists and special interest groups have a stranglehold on the New York state Legislature. The legislators listen to them more than they do us, the taxpayer and the voter. We have to become more active in letting these folks know our concerns. Write your legislator and voice your position. These folks are supposed to be your representatives, not the special interest groups.

We voted them into office, and we can vote them out of office. We also need term limits in the state. It's hard for me to understand why folks vote party lines instead of voting for the person who will do the best job for the interests of the people of New York state. Leaders are listening more to the lobbyist and special interest groups than the taxpayer and voter. It's time that they started listening to you, the voter.

School districts have no discipline on the spending of your tax dollars. A cap orelimination of the school property tax is essential to get this spending under control and ease or eliminate the tax burden on the property owner. State aid would have to pick up the slack with other taxes, but this would be spread over a larger population with everyone paying their fair share, not just the property owner.

The New York State United Teachers, school district boards and superintendent associations are opposed to any caps or elimination of school taxes because they would be under the control of the state in the way they spend your tax dollars.

Folks, this is the time for you to be heard. Don't sit back and say someone else will do it. You have to do it and do it now. Contact your representatives and let them know your position. Together we can make changes happen.

Frank Lent

Dexter