Poll: Make property-tax cap top priority

ALBANY -- New Yorkers, choosing among high-profile issues, say that enacting a property-tax cap should be the top priority for the remainder of the legislative session, according to a poll released Thursday.

The Quinnipiac University survey showed strong support for an issue that's been linked to a proposed tax cap: renewal of rent regulations in New York City. The survey also found strong continuing support for toughening ethics laws and allowing same-sex marriage.

About 79 percent of those surveyed said yes when asked whether "there should be a cap on how much property taxes can be raised annually in New York State;" 17 percent said no. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has proposed a 2 percent cap, which the Senate passed.

Rent control was favored 59 percent to 33 percent; gay marriage was favored 56 to 38.

Asked to choose the top priority, 46 percent chose the tax cap, 29 percent ethics, 7 percent redistricting and 6 percent gay marriage.

Poll support doesn't always translate to legislative support, however. Cuomo and Republicans earlier this year blocked a Democratic-led effort to renew the state's surcharge on high earners even though surveys showed most New Yorkers wanted to keep the so-called "millionaires' tax."

The survey of 1,704 voters was conducted April 5-11 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.4 percentage points.