Tokasz was appointed to the Governor's Commission on Property Tax Relief to study the feasibility of a property tax cap. The controversial proposal would limit school tax levies from rising above four percent.

School taxes make up more than half the property tax bills for most of the state. It makes New York one of the highest taxed states in the country.

Tokasz applauded many of the ideas suggested by educational leaders to help reign in costs and improve performance. He agrees a regional approach is key.

Educators talked about everything from regional high schools to sharing resources - not always popular ideas.

But Tokasz said resistance to these ideas isn't the only obstacle to capping property taxes.

Tokasz said a series of hearings are being held around the state to address a number of hurdles, including rising mandated costs. He said the aid formula itself is problematic. Tokasz said, right now, the big five school districts wouldn't fall under a cap.

Buffalo Schools Superintendent James Williams said one logical step toward lowering costs would be letting the district participate in the Board of Cooperative Educational Services system. BOCES was started in 1948 to help struggling suburban schools. Williams said urban districts now are the ones that need the help most.

The findings from the Commission on Property Tax relief are expected sometime in December.

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