NASSAU COUNTY CIVIC ASSOCIATION, INC.
"The government is us, we are the government, you and I." Teddy Roosevelt
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NASSAU COUNTY CIVIC ASSOCIATION, INC. "The government is us, we are the government, you and I." Teddy Roosevelt |
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February 28, 2009
A Tax Too Far
Nassau Legislature over reaches on taxes
By a party line vote, the Nassau County legislature voted to impose new taxes on home heating oil, natural gas, propane and firewood used to heat homes in Nassau County. The new heating tax follows a recent property tax increase this past October. Unlike the property tax increase, the new tax is regressive and will affect every single Nassau County resident regardless of income, financial status or one's ability to pay. Even if you don't own your own home and rent, the tax will be passed along in the form of higher rent. This newest tax scheme by County Executive Suozzi and the legislature may prove to be the final burden to break the back of Nassau taxpayers.
This past Monday, the legislature held a public meeting to consider the home heating tax passed earlier by the Rules Committee. What occurred at the public meeting can best be described as a circus. The show was fraught with dishonesty and diversion. Many of the legislators supporting the home heating tax refused to call it a new tax. Legislator David Denenberg referred to the tax as a "sales tax extension" and Legislator Kevan Abrams called it a "revenue enhancement". The home heating tax is simply a new tax. Maybe they should have used the tried and true methodology of obfuscation by calling it a "fee increase". When this approach failed to persuade other legislators to support the plan, several legislators falsely claimed that new taxes were needed to save social programs. As the legislature is responsible to pass the county budget, they should know that the budget lists youth programs under discretionary spending which is under the control of the County executive. According to County Executive Suozzi's emergency budget plan, there is no provision in the plan to restore cuts to youth programs based solely on passage of the home heating tax.
When all else failed, Presiding Officer Diane Yatauro allowed chaos to reign by allowing one social service organization and their supporters to hijack the public meeting. Departing from a three minute time limit for all speakers and the requirement that each speaker submit a form requesting time to speak, the Equal Opportunity Commission of Nassau County Inc. was given more then five hours of open unlimited speaking time. While some of the speakers presented persuasive arguments against the proposed spending cuts, many just rambled on. Continuing the circus atmosphere, Legislator Corbin played the race card. By the time opponents were given the opportunity to speak, many had already left.
In October 2008, ten of the same legislators who voted for the home heating tax voted to raise property taxes by 3.9%. While this amount may seem reasonable in of itself, the increase must be viewed in the totality of all taxes assessed against Nassau residents. Looking back since 2001, property taxes have further escalated out of control. Nassau residents now pay the second highest property taxes in the nation.
Over the last several months, almost every governmental entity has either raised taxes and fees or have proposed new taxes. Governor Patterson has proposed $4.6 billion in new taxes, The Metropolitan Transit Authority is pushing for a payroll tax. Local school boards are considering significant hikes in school taxes to make up for proposed cuts in state aid. The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) increased electric rates by 3.2% and with New York's recent "Cap and Trade" policy, electric rates will go higher. All three towns in Nassau County have raised taxes. In particular, the largest town, the Town of Hempstead raised taxes 6.8% this past year. Even when the town "holds the line" on taxes, taxes still go up. The reason; the town indexes for inflation resulting in automatic tax increases every year.
Nassau residents have been socked with new taxes in the form of "fee increases" for parks, gun permits, alarm permits, surcharges on dismissed traffic summons, etc. The newest scheme is the 2.5% tax on home heating fuel. Instead of looking out for the very People for whom they serve, the elitist members of the Nassau County Legislature go on scheming to raise taxes. With people losing their jobs, homes and struggling from check to check, their answer is more taxes.
Since 2001, Nassau County's portion of your property tax bill has increased by 32.2 percent (2001-8.9%, 2003-19.4%, 2008-3.9%). With the failed assessment system, many Nassau residents have been socked with even higher double digit tax hikes. Every level of government continues to raise taxes while claiming that their portion of the tax bill is not significant as a percentage of the total tax bill. It's not what they claim but what your tax bill proves; Nassau residents are being crushed by property taxes. Tom Suozzi acknowledged this fact when he made this promise while running for County Executive almost eight years ago; “Elected officials are good at talking a game, all of us are, but I can do it because I've done it. The most important thing we need to do to help stimulate the economy in New York state is to reduce local taxes, especially property taxes.”
Look at you tax bill from 2001 and compare it with your 2009 tax bill. Can you honestly say that you are better off today then you were eight years ago? If not, it's time you hold your government accountable.