Letter: Mangano's tax hike an empty threat
Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano and Incoming Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams. (Dec. 19, 2011) Credit: Howard Schnapp
Last week, Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano gave his State of the County address ["Tax refund plan a tough sell," News, March 15]. He threatened to raise property taxes 13 percent if Democrats don't give him approval to borrow $102 million for tax assessment refunds.
The public should know that Mangano's threat of a 13 percent increase is nothing more than a scare tactic. These tactics are not new for this county executive. In the last month, he has publicly threatened to raise property taxes 25 percent, then he threatened 19 percent, and now it's 13 percent.
Mangano should know that he has no authority to raise property taxes so high. Last year, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo signed a property tax cap into law. This means that Mangano cannot raise taxes 13 percent (or 19 percent or 25 percent) unless he has Democratic votes. The law requires that 60 percent of the county legislature approve for a waiver from the cap to be granted. Let me be clear: The Democratic caucus will never vote for a property tax increase.
It is inconceivable that Mangano would take something as important as the annual State of the County address to throw out a ridiculous scare tactic to the public that is at best disingenuous and at worst dishonest.
Either Mangano doesn't understand the very government he leads, or he is playing games with the public. Either way, that is the real scare.
Kevan Abrahams, Freeport
Editor's note: The writer is the leader of the Democratic minority in the Nassau County Legislature.
