ALBANY (AP) -- The Senate's Republican minority is pushing to cap school taxes, while seeking to provide districts with access to more of their own reserves.

The cap on growth would be either slightly more than the inflation rate or up to 2.5 percent, whichever is lower. That would mean the upcoming local school taxes couldn't rise because there was no inflation last year.

Senate Republican leader Dean Skelos of Nassau County is seeking the action before the May 18 school budget votes statewide in all but the largest city districts.

There was no immediate comment from the Senate's Democratic majority, which is pushing for its own property tax relief plan.

Without Democrats, Republicans wouldn't have the required 32 votes to pass a bill.

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