Politics on the Hudson

The state Commission on Property Tax Relief announced today that it has scheduled six hearings across New York to delve into the high property-tax problem.

Gov. David Paterson and Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi, who heads the commission, said that the hearings are aimed at gathering information on some of the reasons for high school-property taxes, such as special education costs, government mandates and the issues facing large city school districts.

In June, the commission released a report that recommended a school property-tax cap, tying taxes to household income and mandate relief for schools. Yet the report didn’t address the problems of the Big Four school districts: Yonkers, Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse.

The hearings will help the commission develop its final report, to be released by Dec. 1.

The hearings will be held Sept. 9 on Long Island; Oct. 2 in Albany; Oct. 22 in Yonkers; Oct. 30 in Buffalo; Nov. 5 in Rochester and Nov. 12 in Syracuse. The specific locations have not been determined.

Each hearing will include a public forum.