Capping property taxes would take away the public's right to improve schools, he said.

"It is just a case of government stepping in and trying to tell the local people what they can and can't do with their schools," Sherman said.

RELIEF NEEDED

Kasprzak understands the varied positions on the issue, but he thinks the government must step in.

"The City of Plattsburgh absolutely needs tax relief," he said. "The residents of this community can no longer afford the high property taxes that have been existing for years, and there is no question we must have a cap to return the city to affordability."

It's become impossible for some of them to remain living in the area, he said, while others have been forced to adjust their lives to soaring costs and a struggling economy.

"We must cap property taxes across the board," Kasprzak said. "If that does not happen, there will continue to be an exodus of New York state residents to other areas, and that simply is unacceptable."

John Whitely of Ticonderoga has been involved with property-taxpayer activities for the past 15 years and envisions a three-point program of a tax cap, circuit breaker and mandate relief.

"If you don't have a circuit breaker or mandate relief, the tax cap will cause problems down the road," said Whitely, who belongs to the New York State Tax Reform Coalition.

"The levy of taxation now is making it difficult for a lot of people," he continued. "They are having to sell their homes. What do you do if you are a senior living on a relatively fixed income and property taxes continue to go up."

His group would like to see the school-property tax eliminated altogether with the state picking up the tab.

EDUCATION CONCERNS

Chris Martine moved into the City of Plattsburgh a couple of years ago and has spoken to many longtime residents who are having trouble paying their taxes.

"It's not hard to imagine why for-sale signs are popping up around the city."

He agreed that people need relief, but, with a daughter going into second grade and a son entering kindergarten soon, he wouldn't want to see school programs negatively impacted as a result.