Education

New York teachers union unhappy with property tax cap, sues for more money

Associated Press Contributor
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BUFFALO, N.Y. — New York’s largest teachers union says it’s suing to overturn the state’s property tax cap.

New York State United Teachers says the cap is unconstitutional and perpetuates funding inequities between affluent and poor districts.

The state Supreme Court lawsuit filed in Albany Wednesday also says the cap diminishes the power of voters by requiring a supermajority of 60 percent to override.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo hasn’t yet publicly responded to the lawsuit. The cap he pushed for generally restricts districts from increasing their tax levy by more than 2 percent.

NYSUT (nye-suht) President Richard Iannuzzi (eye-an-OO’-zee) says the suit was filed by NYSUT and some parents with children in districts where a majority, but not a supermajority, of voters favored exceeding the cap to avoid cuts in programs and staff.

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Associated Press