Editorial: Setback in Gordon Heights
Members of the community cast their vote at the Gordon Heights Fire Department on Tuesday. Credit: Photo by Chris Ware
In the Gordon Heights Fire District on Tuesday, advocates of profound change in Long Island's most costly fire district fell short of winning a majority on the board of commissioners by one vote. That shows both the power of every vote and the maddening difficulty of lowering costs through consolidation.
One key problem with Gordon Heights is its size. It's only 1.7 square miles, in contrast to the 9.2 square-mile average for fire districts in the Town of Brookhaven. It has about 900 homes and little commercial property to share the tax burden. So the average home has been paying $1,500 a year -- four times the rate in nearby districts.
The answer is to spread that cost over a larger base. In 2008, proponents of change petitioned for the dissolution of the district. The town, which had rejected an earlier petition, did accept that one, then commissioned a consultant study. Early this year, that study offered several options. But the town has been moving at a glacial pace ever since.
The vote Tuesday left defenders of the status quo in control. But the pressure for change will continue. It has already led to a slight decrease in the tax rate, but that rate still too high.
So, what's next? Reformers want the town to issue a request for proposals to surrounding fire departments, to learn if they're willing to cover Gordon Heights, and what that would cost. The town should take that low-risk step and be aggressive in seeking real tax relief for the district's residents.
