The Rochester Business Alliance and Unshackle Upstate are joining with the Business Council of New York State and others to support a property tax cap as proposed by Gov. David Paterson and - according to a recent poll - overwhelmingly supported by Upstate voters.

Sandy Parker, Rochester Business Alliance president and CEO, traveled to Albany this week to join other tax cap supporters in urging the state Legislature to take action on this matter. A poll conducted by Siena College and released earlier this week found that 74 percent of voters statewide say they favor a property tax. Among Upstate voters, 79 percent support a cap on property taxes.

"As a voice for Upstate, we urge our elected officials to act on an issue that three-quarters of their constituents want to see happen, and to do so before the legislative session ends," said Parker, who attended the Albany meeting as a spokesperson for the Unshackle Upstate coalition. "We fully support Governor Paterson's property tax cap proposal and are proud to stand beside him and among the vast majority of New York residents."

The governor's proposal calls for limiting school property tax increases to 4 percent a year or 120 percent of the Consumer Price Index, unless a majority of school district voters say otherwise.

Local property taxes paid by New York state residents are among the highest in the nation - 79 percent higher than the national average, so it is no surprise, Parker said, that the voters are speaking up in favor of Paterson's proposal.

"We have the highest state and local taxes per capita, and as a direct result, businesses and people have left or chosen not to locate here, which has crippled our economy," she added. "Property tax relief is essential to our coalition's mission of working towards reform that will make New York State a more affordable place to live, work, run a business and raise a family."

The Unshackle Upstate coalition will be working with the Business Council of New York State and other supporters of the tax cap to garner statewide support for the property tax cap, Parker said. Anyone who wants to sign onto a petition in support of the tax cap is asked to send their name, town and county of residence and e-mail address to Communications@RBAlliance.com