Mangano's tax assessment panel slams proposed solution

Members of a panel appointed by County Executive Edward Mangano to fix Nassau's broken tax assessment system ended up roundly criticizing his first proposal on the problem.

One of the panel's members said Monday that the group's work had been "hijacked" by the Mangano administration, claiming it had moved ahead with the tax reform without fully informing the board or giving it much input.

Jericho Realtor Mark Hamer, co-chair of the Assessment Review Team, delivered a blistering critique to county lawmakers of the way the group has been treated by the administration.

At a hearing, he told the legislators a bill before them was "an assault" on small business, and that the study team had minimal involvement in the bill and accompanying executive orders from Mangano.

The bill attempts to speed settlements by requiring property owners seeking to reduce their assessment to file a certified appraisal or a good-faith alternative figure by Oct. 1 of each year, or pay a $5,000 fine. The county has been paying more than $100 million a year in refunds - more than 80 percent to business owners and their attorneys.

"Under the guise of reform, the county, through this bill, seeks to punish every commercial property owner that files a tax grievance," Hamer told a meeting of the full legislature.

He went on to refer to some of Mangano's proposals as "bizarre edicts."

Deputy County Executive Patrick Foye, who coordinates the assessment reform for Mangano, thanked members of the team for their "important" help, telling legislators there were "obviously differences of opinion" on the panel.

Another member of the study group, Brad Blumenfeld of Syosset, said the proposed law "simply fortifies the [current] incompetence." The bill "is not aimed at fixing it, but at protecting it," he said.

Attorney Laureen Harris and several others on the 9-member study team sat in the audience. Some of them applauded Hamer and Blumenfeld.

Hamer said members of the panel did not get all the information they requested, "and what you don't believe is going to happen is that the process is going to be hijacked."

Mangano later released a statement saying: "The only thing that is being hijacked is the taxpayer wallet. We're working to safely return it."

The presiding officer, Legis. Peter Schmitt (R-Massapequa) questioned why the bill was being criticized now when it was created in January.

Hamer said he recently learned the bill was before lawmakers and "this is the first opportunity I've had to come in front of you."

The legislature laid the bill over until its next meeting on June 7.

In other action, lawmakers approved an early retirement incentive to help the administration cut an estimated 300 county employees, including about 70 police officers, for a savings of about $7 million this year, officials said.

With Sid Cassese

Mangano's proposed reform bill

Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano's proposed bill to reform tax assessment system.

It would require commercial property owners who file appeals of their property's assessments to take the following actions by Oct. 1st.

• Submit a certified appraisal to support a lower assessment.

• Or, submit a "bona fide" assessment figure which should be no less than, barring special circumstances, 85 percent of the county's assessment.
• Or, withdraw the appeal.

Owners who fail to do one of the above would be subject to a $5,000 fine. The intent is to settle commercial protests before the county becomes liable for tax refunds.

Source: Nassau County executive's office.