The Rochester Business Alliance joined the New York Property Tax Cap Coalition at a staged a public rally in Rochester Tuesday morning to call for the state Legislature to enact an annual cap on school property tax increases.

Supporters gathered at the SUNY Brockport MetroCenter in downtown Rochester under the banner of the coalition, which to date has nearly 900 members statewide. The Rochester Business Alliance is a member of the tax cap coalition, which is calling for the Legislature to adopt a proposal by Gov. David Paterson that would cap annual increases at 4 percent or 120 percent of the rate of inflation, whichever is less.

The headline speaker at the rally was Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi, who chaired the New York State Commission on Property Tax Relief. The property tax cap was the main recommendation of the Commission.

Joining Suozzi was Sandy Parker, president and CEO of the Rochester Business Alliance – and a special advisor to the Commission on Property Tax Relief - and Kenneth Adams, CEO of the Business Council of New York State, also a member of the tax cap coalition. Rochester was one of Suozzi's first stops on a statewide tour promoting the tax cap coalition and Gov. Paterson's proposal.

"New York's unsustainable property tax burden is driving both residents and businesses out of the state. By controlling the growth of the property tax burden, voter anger over property taxes will be redirected to where it belongs- on the quality of our schools. Regardless of any other factors, property taxes cannot be increased above a capped amount," Suozzi said. "I urge all state legislators to support Gov. Paterson's program bill."

Parker pointed out that New Yorkers pay local taxes that are 79 percent above the national average, the highest in America. Outside of New York City, she added, 62 percent of that tax bill goes to school property taxes.

"Such high taxes are crippling Upstate's ability to grow and add jobs. It's imperative that our Legislature take action now," Parker said. "Instituting a school property tax cap is the essential first step to reigning in the statewide spending that has gotten us to this point and helping Upstate- and all of New York state- rebuild its economy. It is a blunt instrument that will slow spending, providing relief to all New Yorkers, and creating the necessary incentive for critical cost-cutting discussions to begin."

Adams said New York's high property taxes "are doing serious damage to our economy."

"For many businesses in New York the property tax is the single largest tax they pay," Adams said. "This tax burden makes it difficult to create and keep jobs in our state. The Governor's tax cap plan offers real hope that New York can get the growth of property taxes under control and make our economy competitive again."

A Siena College poll released in June found that 74 percent of New Yorkers- and 79 percent of Upstate residents- favored a tax cap.

Anyone wishing to learn more about the tax cap proposal or to sign on to the New York Property Tax Cap Coalition is invited to log on to www.taxcapnow.org.