Superintendents Will Meet to Address Cuomo Tax Cap

As the potential realities of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposed property tax cap begin to set in with school districts across the state, about 200 school leaders from 36 districts across Suffolk County will meet with elected officials on Saturday to develop advocacy strategies for funding issues.

State Sen. John Flanagan, R-Smithtown, and Assemb. Steve Englebright, D-East Setauket, are slated to attend the Suffolk County School Superintendents Association meeting Saturday morning at the Sherwood Instructional Support Center in Holbrook.

In a statement outlining the goals of the advocacy workshop, the SCSSA stressed "the importance of Long Island speaking with one voice to the rest of the state."

"Before the law is enacted, you want to lobby the representatives to put in certain things to make the law less arduous," said Three Village interim superintendent Neil Lederer, a past SCSSA president.

At the Commack School District Board of Ed meeting Thursday night, Superintendent Dr. Donald James touched upon the proposed property tax cap, noting that it will shrink the district's budget if it goes into effect. Attendees were given a flyer titled "Principles to Guide the Design and Introduction of a Property Tax Cap," created by the Suffolk superintendents Association.

Dr. James will be present at Saturday's meeting. 

Editor Kaitlyn Piccoli contributed to this article.