NEWS; PROPERTY TAX FREEZE PROPOSED

MINEOLA, Mar. 29—Nassau County Republican lawmakers have proposed a freeze on property tax assessment increases for the next five years because the 2003 reassessments, and subsequent annual assessments, have caused “sticker shock” for Nassau County residents, according to the legislators.

The proposed legislation calls for County Assessor Harvey Levinson to continue assessing properties, but any increases he finds would not take effect until 2013. Any depreciation in property value, whether by assessment or by sale, would take immediate effect.

The Democratic majority objected to the proposed legislation and they planned to prevent a vote on the proposal by using parliamentary maneuvers.

Nassau was ordered to reassess properties for three years beginning in 2003 due to a court case, settled in 2000, which found that the county’s method for assessing real property was discriminatory. The plaintiff had argued that property in poorer and minority communities were over-assessed.

"Annually reassessing the value of Nassau residents’ homes during a real estate boom is not an accurate reflection of proper proportionate property taxing as envisioned by New York State law,” said Legis. John Ciotti (R-Elmont) in a statement.

Prior to the case, properties were assessed for tax purposes at the 1938 land value, according to minority press secretary Christina Brennan. This led to the over-assessment of some communities in the 1990s, because there was no real definitive community of minorities or the poor on Long Island in 1938, she said.

"Our families are being torn apart because no one can afford to remain here or start a life here due to the exorbitant costs of living on Long Island—and a big part of that is runaway property taxes,” said Legis. Denise Ford (R-Long Beach) in a statement released to the press.

Democrats dispute the motives for the legislation. “It is the most politically motivated, irresponsible, public relations feel-good idea that I have ever heard of in government,” Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury) said.

Because the three-year period of the settlement is over, the Republicans wanted to prevent the re-assessments from continuing. This proposal, according to the Republican press office, is the “first of many measures to decode the Nassau County taxing procedure and bring predictability back to our residents’ households.”

Property taxes in Nassau County are calculated by taking the fair market value (as assessed), and multiplying it by an assessment rate, which is currently 1 per cent. Next, that assessed value is taxed at the rates the assorted taxes require.

However, state law requires that an assessed value cannot increase by more than 6 per cent annually, so to circumvent that, Minority Leader Peter Schmitt (R-Massapequa) alleged, County Assessor Harvey Levinson has been “manipulating the fractional assessment rates.”

The Democrats are not putting the bill onto the legislative calendar, which is tantamount to killing the bill before it even arrives.

University faculty and staff were divided on the issue. “No, I don’t think a freeze is the thing to do,” said, Executive Secretary of the political science Mary Starke, who is from Bellmore. “History taught us a lesson when County Executive [Tom] Gulotta appeased voters by never addressing taxes under a code from the 1930s.”

“Property taxes are exorbitantly high, second to New Jersey for highest in the country,” said Dr. Leslie D. Feldman, associate professor of political science, who is from Great Neck. “This platform is a good way for Republicans to get back power.”

One professor questioned its happening. “In theory it is a good idea, but is it realistic?” asked Dr. Rosanna Perotti, Associate Professor of political science. “I don’t know.