Yesterday’s poll asked:

If the new law doesn’t actually cap tax levy increases at 2 percent, how will it provide property tax relief?

With or without a law “capping” tax levy increases, school leaders know that many New Yorkers are struggling in this economy and agree that property tax relief is needed. At the same time, they have heard first-hand from residents what many polls have indicated: Most New Yorkers do not want tax relief to come at the expense of their public schools.

However, living within the realities of the new law—while mandated costs escalate and the pressure to control taxes continues—will force difficult decisions.

The law seeks to control increases in school tax levies (a source of revenue), not to help curb escalating expenses. Except for a few modest mandate-relief measures, the law does nothing to help schools rein in costs. At the same time, New York State’s public schools have lost more than $1 billion in state education funding in recent years, putting even greater pressure on local taxes to fund school programs.

The law may result in some measure of tax relief for residents. However, the extent to which the law will also result in the loss of educational programs will depend on levels of state education funding and whether state leaders offer any meaningful mandate-relief measures to help control rising costs.

To see how others voted on yesterday’s poll: visit the poll post and click “View Results”