Now, your thoughts: PROPERTY TAXES

June 17, 2007

Our experiment in brainstorming has begun. Here's a sample of the ideas readers sent in response to last Sunday's editorial. The conversation on Long Island's future continues. Michael White, executive director of the Long Island Regional Planning Board, will respond to your questions and comments in this space next Sunday. Respond or add a new idea any time, by category, at: www.newsday.com/opinion. Watch the opinion pages for select comments.

A countywide centralization of the school districts with streamlined administrations could lower the school taxes, which are the greatest burden. Jim Mastrodomenico, 40 Glen Head

Low-income, elderly homeowners without school-age children receive property tax relief through Enhanced STAR, but singles or couples have to pay local school taxes that do not take into account their lower income and lack of school-age children. Then the politicians wonder why the younger folks don't return. Dave Gould, 44 Lynbrook

For families with children, school taxes should be on a sliding rate; those with more children should pay more. Nicole Morrison, 24 Shirley

I remember when people took jobs in education or with the police for the retirement benefits and did not have higher pay than they could get in private industry. Now the highest-paying jobs with good retirement and health benefits are those paid for with our tax money. This has to stop. Robert F. Southard, 64 South Setauket

Every time a school budget vote comes up, it is always either the late buses or the music department or art classes that are threatened to be eliminated. The overpaid teachers and administrators always get their annual raises and have their benefits paid for. Recently there was an article on the high turnout for the Suffolk County police exam, the reason for this being the high starting salary and potential growth to six-figure income. John J. Daffara, 53 St. James

There needs to be a cap imposed on property taxes and on school spending. Andrea Vecchio East Islip