Nassau Dems propose assessment amendments

Two Nassau Democratic lawmakers proposed amendments Tuesday to the Mangano administration's property assessment overhaul.

"County Executive Edward Mangano's reforms have really turned into regressions," Legis. David Denenberg of Merrick said at a news conference, accompanied by Legis. Wayne Wink of Roslyn and half a dozens residents from their districts.

The two legislative minority members said they have introduced amendments that would force the Assessment Review Commission to substantively examine all homeowner grievances within 15 months, and, if reductions are made, to have them incorporated into next year's assessment. Often neither of those steps happened.

The lawmakers also said that the legislature's presiding officer, Peter Schmitt (R-Massapequa), has refused to put the amendments on the agenda for consideration.

Schmitt later responded: "They are eight years late and about a $1 billion short. Where were they?"

Brian Nevin, Mangano's chief spokesman, said the county executive inherited a "broken assessment system . . . [and the Democrats] "messed up the system so badly that it cannot be corrected overnight. The former Democrat majority failed taxpayers by sitting idle for a decade."

Mangano in April froze assessments for four years by executive order.

, Maggie and Shohei Yamamoto of Roslyn complained that they have heard nothing about their grievance of last year "and will file again."

"ARC has until April 1st to make a determination," Nevin said. "We agree this time frame is too long. Legislator Denenberg should join us in changing the law."