ALBANY — Upstate New Yorkers are getting four more opportunities to sound off about the state's high property taxes.

The state Commission on Property Tax Relief announced Thursday that it will hold another round of hearings to gather more information on issues it found needed "special consideration." The hearings will include expert testimony and a forum for public comment on "specific issues identified by the commission."

"We are on the path toward providing real property tax relief that New Yorkers so desperately need," said Thomas R. Suozzi, commission chairman. "The governor recognizes the critical importance of a property tax cap as a blunt instrument necessary to force the hard choices that our taxpayers need and deserve. Without the cap, we will continue to see inordinate property tax increases and any other property tax relief measures will be only short-term band aids."

The four upstate hearings will be in Albany (Oct. 2), Buffalo (Oct. 30), Rochester (Nov. 5), and Syracuse (Nov. 12). These hearings will focus on the impact of property taxes on the "big four" large city-dependent school districts, special education and school district mandate relief. Hearings also are slated for Long Island and Yonkers.

The commission released its preliminary report in June and is scheduled to issue its final report by Dec. 1.

During their special sessions last month, the state Senate and Assembly passed separate legislative packages to address New York's high property tax burden. The Senate passed a cap, limiting property tax growth to 4 percent annually, while the Assembly opted for a "circuit breaker" plan, which would tie tax payments to a percentage of income. Gov. David A. Paterson said these two concepts need to be united.

"The Assembly and Senate put separate proposals on the table, and now we have to close the gap between the two sides to get the relief that New Yorkers clearly need," he said. "These hearings will further inform our discussions as we move forward to pass real relief for our overburdened taxpayers. New York's inordinately high property tax burden is hurting our state's economy, forcing young families to leave, and leaving seniors in a position where they have few options but to sell their lifelong homes."

Mr. Suozzi and other commission members will attend the hearings; Gov. Paterson will not be present, unless otherwise announced. Further details will be posted on the commission's Web site at: www.cptr.state.ny.us.