Though school districts across the state are, on average, facing a 3.4 percent increase in their tax levies, Gov. Andrew Cuomo insisted that most can live within his proposed 2 percent cap.

“I think it is a question of fiscal discipline and fiscal control,” Cuomo said.

The governor, who wants to cap property taxes at 2 percent or the rate of inflation, said that putting a ceiling on local and school taxes would result in a hard look, and ultimately a reduction, in spending.

“That’s what a property tax cap does,” he said.

Cuomo went down a list of showing that when the state increases spending on school education, the local property taxes went up as well.

“If there is more money, they will spend more money,” Cuomo said.

The state Education Department released their annual property tax cap report card today, finding that though many school districts have reduced spending over the previous year’s budget, most are raising taxes outside of the 2 percent cap that Cuomo wants to see passed.

The pro-business Unshackle Upstate released a “white paper” report today trying to debunk the criticisms of the cap, including the concerns of its negative impact on school districts and local governments.

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