GOUVERNEUR -- The mayor of Gouverneur says he is grateful to the state Legislature and the governor for an extension of the state property tax cap which he says gives community leaders a chance to develop longer range plans for their municipalities.

“I was pleased to learn the Cuomo Administration along with the State Legislature has agreed to a four year tax cap,” said Mayor Ronald P. McDougall.

“This provides local governments a so called form of stability in planning for the next 48 months,” he said in an emailed statement to the press.

“The middle class is the backbone to a successful economy, but they can only thrive as long as our communities are affordable,” McDougall said.

He said the tax cap extension, “combined with a new rebate program...should stabilize our middle class, save taxpayers money and keep our economy thriving.”

A deal announced Tuesday in Albany would extend the property tax cap in New York State for another four years.

That agreement was announced by Governor Cuomo and the leaders of the State Assembly, Speaker Carl Heastie, a Democrat from the Bronx, and of the Senate, Republican John Flanagan of Long Island.

Heather Briccetti, president of the Business Council of New York State, was quoted on bizjournals.com saying the cap so far has saved businesses and residents $7.6 billion since the law was enacted in 2011.

McDougall is up for re-election in November.

He was elected mayor in 2013 with the endorsements of the Democratic and Republican parties.