Letter: Nassau Democrats wrong on tax bills
Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano and Incoming Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams. (Dec. 19, 2011) Credit: Howard Schnapp
Legis. Kevan Abrahams' claim ["Tax increases pushed on to school bills," Letters, Jan. 15] that large increases in school property taxes were due to the assessment system and the elimination of the county guarantee is disingenuous, inaccurate and plain wrong. School district spending is driving property taxes to record levels in our county. It's that plain and simple.
The assessed value of a home only tells the district how the tax burden will be distributed to homeowners and businesses within the district. That is why I have worked each day, trying to improve the assessment system that was mishandled and ignored by the legislator and his Democratic colleagues for the past decade.
Newsday's report ["Taxing situation," News, Jan. 6] featured homeowners complaining that their school property taxes are too high. They are right. That is why I crossed political party lines to join Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo in supporting a property tax cap. It is also the reason I have cut $200 million in wasteful spending and have held the line on property taxes for two consecutive years.
I am also proud that my administration ended the county guarantee, which helped create more than $1.2 billion in debt to Nassau's overburdened taxpayers.
Edward Mangano, Mineola
Editor's note: The writer is the Nassau County executive.
