Hild brings 27 years as tax assessor to Nassau team

When Gregory Hild was promoted to Smithtown tax assessor in 1983, the registered Republican's new position was approved by a largely Democratic town board. And he stayed for 27 years in that position.

"They couldn't have found a better person. Gregory is a thoroughly knowledgeable fellow and should provide the advice and counsel they need," said Smithtown Supervisor Patrick Vecchio.

Hild, 62, who retired Aug. 31, has been called back to duty, this time to lead a team in Nassau County after the firing of the county's assessor last week.

"I'm going to do my best," Hild said by phone in a break from daylong meetings in Nassau. "I'm not sure where the men's room is yet, but I'll get up to speed shortly. We got some boots on the ground today, but we have our work cut out for us."

Hild said he got a call on Friday from Patrick Foye, deputy Nassau County executive for economic development, asking whether he could be in Mineola by 9 a.m. Monday. They wanted him as acting assessor, but Hild told County Executive Edward Mangano that he would rather be a consultant, he said.

"I just want to get this on the straight and narrow - how we do it in the rest of the state, for heaven's sake," Hild said. "If I can add my two cents, it's that I want to get it done and get it right."

Known for his open-door policy and broad knowledge of assessment law, Hild was awarded the Robert Osias Professionalism Award last month from the New York State Assessors Association, a peer recognition.

Still, Hild has never had a reassessment in his town under his 27-year watch, he said.

He also had 11 full-time staff members in Smithtown, rather small compared to the 240 working in the county's assessment office. He said he knows it will be a different experience than what he had in Smithtown.
In March 2009, Hild was embroiled in a controversy when he lowered the assessment on a group of buildings on Main Street that were taken down despite a stop-work order.

However, later that month the state Office of Real Property Services issued a written opinion, saying the legality of the buildings' removal should not be considered when reassessing the property.

When it comes to the new job, Hild agrees he has two things working for him: He is not embroiled in Nassau politics, and he will stay on for only six months.

When asked whether he would apply for a waiver for his state pension to stay longer, he emphatically said, "I have no plans to take the job."