Some on property tax reform slam Mangano

Members of Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano's volunteer property tax assessment reform team Tuesday complained his administration bypassed them to promote flawed legislation that protects a "broken system."

Four appointees representing commercial property owners, including the chairman of Mangano's Assessment Reform Team, said they were "blindsided" by a proposed county law that they contend illegally burdens business owners while doing nothing to fix the county's problem of inaccurate assessments.

"The integrity of what we were asked and charged to do . . . has been breached," said chairman Mark Hamer, a commercial property landlord.

After spending 40 to 50 hours reviewing the assessment system and making recommendations, the members say they weren't consulted when Mangano introduced the county law, which passed legislative committees Monday. It would impose a $5,000 fine on business owners who protest their assessments if they don't submit a certified appraisal by Oct. 1 or provide a "bona fide offer" within 85 percent of the assessor's value. Owners settling their challenge waive their right to protest during the four-year assessment cycle.

While county officials disagree, member Laureen Harris, a commercial tax appeal attorney, said, "It implicitly allows the assessor to screw up by 15 percent."

Added member Brad Blumenfeld, of the Blumenfeld Development Group: "It protects the broken system at the expense of property owners."

The members said they haven't even seen assessment-related bills Mangano recently submitted in Albany.

Deputy County Executive Patrick Foye, who is overseeing assessment reform, countered that the county law was amended because of their concerns.

"We are going to continue to meet and talk with them and be responsive to the issues they raise," Foye said. "I think the county and commercial property owners have a common goal of fixing the assessment system for the mutual benefit of the county and all taxpayers."

But Legis. Wayne Wink (D-Roslyn) said, "It's very disconcerting that the task force the county executive put together in January is already being circumvented. . . . It makes the ART team look like window dressing."

Mangano signed an executive order on the day he was sworn in, creating ART to recommend fixes for a system that generates $100 million in tax refunds every year because of erroneous property values.

He appointed nine members, with five representing commercial property interests.