Following his appointment by Gov. Eliot Spitzer to head a commission on tax solutions, Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi told News 12 Long Island how he intends to move forward.

Suozzi will work to put a cap on property taxes, but he admits it won?t be easy. The cap will include a limit how much money schools can spend. The executive says schools will likely resist unless they get help lowering their costs, including rising expenses for things mandated by the state.

Suozzi says a plan will never work unless Democrats, Republicans, teachers unions, school superintendents, school boards and residents work together to compromise. He also says it?s time to ?get real? about property taxes.

In 2006, Suozzi railed against high taxes in his Democratic gubernatorial primary campaign against Spitzer. Suozzi says Spitzer?s creation of a tax solution commission demonstrates the governor is trying to reach out to those he may not have gotten along with in the past.

Some say they are skeptical about Suozzi?s appointment. "That?s putting Count Dracula in charge of the blood bank," Nassau County GOP Chairman Joseph Mondello says.

However, many Long Island residents say they are sick of soaring taxes that are forcing some off the Island and out of the state. The county executive says he'd like to have a plan for state lawmakers to vote on in the spring.

To watch an extended interview with Suozzi, go to channel 612 on your iO digital cable box and select iO Extra.

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