ALBANY, N.Y., June 9, 2008 - A broad coalition of community, policy and education leaders will speak out Tuesday against Gov. David Paterson's proposed property tax cap at a press conference scheduled for 11 a.m. in the LCA room at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center.
Opponents of the cap say it would limit the progress communities are making in improving their schools; hamper efforts to close the achievement gap in poor districts; take away local control; and ignore the rising costs districts face in energy and other fixed costs.
The coalition is organized by New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness and the Educational Conference Board, and includes such groups as the New York State PTA; the Working Families Party; Fiscal Policy Institute; New York State Council of School Superintendents; New York State United Teachers; Citizens Action of NY; TREND; Center on Budget and Policy Priorities; Campaign for Fiscal Equity; Alliance for Quality Education; and the Civil Service Employees Association.
NYSUT, the state's largest union, represents more than 600,000 classroom teachers and other school employees; faculty and other professionals at the state's community colleges, State University of New York and City University of New York, and other education and health professionals. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and AFL-CIO.