Tax cap would block local school control

Who should decide how neighborhood schools are funded ["Add a tax cap for 2012," Editorial, May 15]? Should each community be able to democratically determine its own educational priorities, or should a one-size-fits-all decree from Albany dictate what parents and others can invest in students' futures?

The answers are at the heart of why a "hard" tax cap is irresponsible, untenable -- and unnecessary. Slick ads from corporate interests and downstate real estate magnates support Albany-dictated controls that favor their interests over those of local communities and our state's children. New Yorkers know better. We already have a democratic process for capping property taxes, and it works pretty well.

After all, what else are New Yorkers doing Tuesday but voting, after careful consideration and debate, on their local property tax rates and deciding the direction of local schools?

Over the last several months, elected school board members have held forums to gather community input and carefully crafted accountable and transparent budgets that reflect community sentiment. School boards are voluntarily cutting programs and staff and limiting property tax increases because that's what the majority feel they need. They are choices made grudgingly but locally, not arbitrarily imposed by Albany.

On Tuesday, voters will decide on budgets that contain school spending increases averaging 0.84 percent, the lowest ever documented. The average budget increase in Nassau and Suffolk counties is 2.17 percent; state funding to Long Island schools was cut by $206 million. Statewide, nearly four in 10 districts are reducing spending which, hopefully, will again lead to widespread budget approvals.

As the economy improves, communities may want to carefully reinvest in their schools. A rigid tax cap would prevent them from restoring programs they want to help their own children and grandchildren meet educational and economic challenges.

Richard C. Iannuzzi, Albany

Editor's note: The writer is the president of the New York State United Teachers union.