Trickle Down Tax Affects, Effect Residents & Business Alike

NASSAU COUNTY CIVIC ASSOCIATION, INC.

"The government is us, we are the government, you and I." Teddy Roosevelt

February 29, 2004

The common thread is taxes

Although I’ve been a Nassau property owner for about 10 years, it has only been in the last few years that I’ve felt the real burden bestowed by the tax man. My taxes have always been high as a Nassau County resident, but I think the general prices of everything, especially consumables, have risen dramatically in the last few years. Like many of my fellow residents, I’ve been making every effort to reduce my spending, and really educate myself in the economics of consumerism.

With this heightened consumer awareness I’ve been questioning almost every price increase that I’ve had to absorb. While lamenting about my heightened property tax I angrily thought: why should I be paying so much money on a small single family ranch? I live a very humble and modest lifestyle. Although my house is worth more today, it’s not as if I’m making an income from the value of my home. Businesses that are making money from their property should be picking up the extra tax burden, not me I thought.

With this in mind I came across an article in the Port Washington News by Bob Hogan titled: Port Business Critical of Property Reassessment. In his article Bob states that most businesses pay up to three times the taxes as paid by residents, and due to the property tax reassessment many small business aren’t renewing their leases; he sites an area on Shore Road where there is a large supermarket but many surrounding vacancies. As I’ve driven from town to town I’ve noticed many vacant businesses and attributed it to the tough economy adversely affecting new businesses. This is true, but in Nassau County the reassessment has caused a double jeopardy effect to start-up and small businesses.

Vacancies in local business districts have a real detrimental effect on our residential communities. Aesthetically, a town that looks “under served” by business will be avoided by customers, hurting the remaining area businesses. Many elderly and handicap residents live in town so they have easier access to local businesses that provide needed goods and services; without these stores this population must endure additional hardships. And more so, with the shrinking commercial tax base, a town’s residents will have to pick up the burden with increases in property and school taxes. We must also remember that many of the local business owners are Nassau residents who, as well as being tax payers, really have a big stake in their communities for their livelihood.

In Mr. Hogan’s article he states that businesses lack the representation on the school board. Many out of control budgets are passed without any consideration to the community businesses and property owners that these increases will affect. All of us want the best education for our children, but many studies show that pouring money into the system doesn’t proportionately increase student’s grades, or relieve many other problems.

The point that I’m making is that we have to work together as a community, businesses and residents alike, to reduce the tax burden and grow local economies. Like the domino effect, any tax increases that are experienced are felt by everyone some where along the chain. It isn’t any one person’s responsibility, because we are all affected.