Tax dollars going uncollected

With all the crying about budgetary problems by Nassau and Suffolk counties and the municipalities within them, I may have found the solution -- and it's right under their collective noses! I have been house hunting in both counties for several months, and cannot tell you how many garage conversions, decks, pools and two-family configurations I have come across that are lacking certificates of occupancy, all in an effort by the homeowner to save money.

How do you find these conversions? Just go to almost any real estate website. Look for language such as "garage can be put back" or "shed/pool is a gift." Even better -- these websites actually provide pictures of houses with garage doors, while the listing says no garage. Anyone in the building department or assessor's office could figure this out.

Another thing to do is compare what the listing has with what is actually recorded and on file. Is the permit and certificate of occupancy on file for the deck, Florida room etc.? Another way, open houses -- just show up!

What to do once these properties are discovered? Again, simple solution. First, offer an amnesty program, and allow homeowners to come forward and obtain permits for the conversion or addition.

Once the period expires and an illegal conversion or addition is found, the homeowner could be penalized with the increased assessment paid retroactively for a period of time, with interest charged on the unpaid past-due taxes. Watch how quickly people come clean.

Stop crying and use some common sense.

Christopher Varous, Clifton Park, N.J.