Local officials call for abatement boost

State Sen. Elaine Phillips and Assemblyman Edward Ra joined other local elected officials last week in calling on the State Legislature to bring property tax abatement levels for Long Island seniors into line with New York City.

Phillips, a Republican of Flower Hill, and Ra, a Republican from Franklin Square, met last Thursday with Town of Hempstead Collector of Taxes Don Clavin, Councilwoman Erin King Sweeny, County Legislator and Presiding Officer Richard Nicolello and Floral Park Mayor Frank Longobardo. The six officials together called for a boost to the level of income seniors and the disabled could earn and still qualify for property tax relief.

“I think we can all agree that it’s time to raise income eligibility levels for this property tax [abatement] program,” said Phillips in speaking for the assembled officials to a group of seniors gathered outside a Floral Park residence. “Our Nassau neighbors have watched costs increase since 2009, and they deserve an increase in income eligibility levels that reflects the increases in the cost of living.” Phillips said she would propose such a measure in the next legislative session.

The income ceiling for all except New York City seniors has remained static since the last increase in 2009. Before that, levels were reviewed and adjusted annually.

“Owning a home on Long Island is expensive, especially for seniors or those with disabilities, many of whom are living on a fixed income” Clavin said. “It’s only right that our Nassau homeowners get the same level of property tax relief that our neighbors in New York City are enjoying.”

“Many seniors and persons with disabilities are struggling to make ends meet,” Ra added. “This legislation would be a huge help for mature residents.”

Under S4628A, the law granting New York City relief that was signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo last summer, seniors 60 and older enjoy a more than 70 percent advantage compared to Nassau County seniors. The bill, sponsored by Staten Island Democrat Sen. Diane Savino, provides for seniors having incomes totaling $50,000 or less to receive property tax abatements of 50 percent. Abatement levels are then stepped down, depending on income. Seniors with household incomes of $57,500 to 58,399 receive abatements of 5 percent.

With more than 14,300 residents age 60 or older, Elmont and Franklin Square seniors would stand to benefit substantially if the measure were extended to them. Currently, abatements for New Yorkers living outside the city begin at $29,000 or less, qualifying for a 50 percent reduction, and top out at $37,399 for a 5 percent abatement.

Median values for residential property in Elmont and Franklin Square currently stand at $365,600 and 436,600, respectively, according to DataUSA, a database pegged to the U.S. Census Bureau. Both hamlets have high levels of property ownership — more than 79 percent in Elmont and 82 percent in Franklin Square, according to the same source. Under the 2 percent tax cap, Elmont residents stand to pay school taxes of $7,312, while Franklin Square residents are taxed at $8,732.

It is not the first time legislators have called for an increase to the income ceiling. Various versions of the New York City bill have been introduced in the past two legislative sessions, including a measure by Rockland County Democrat Sen. David Carlucci that would increase the income ceiling while limiting the maximum abatement to 45 percent. That measure, S7803, was in committee at the close of the most recent legislative session and will have to be taken up next year.

Phillips called the current income levels “unrealistic” in a statement. According to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development guidelines, Long Island households with combined incomes of $56,700 are classified as “low-income.”

Median income in Elmont for all households stands at $91,900. In Franklin Square, it is $95,656.

State Sen. Todd Kamisky, a Democrat from Long Beach who cosponsored similar legislation in the 2015-16 legislative session, weighed in later in the week. “The cost of living on Long Island is outrageous and it is becoming difficult for our senior citizens to make ends meet,” he said. “We need to ensure that they can remain in their homes and communities through a fair tax policy.”

The New York City measure calls for “opt-in” provisions, and Phillips stressed that Nassau County municipalities would have the same freedom under any new measure. These opt-in provisions would enable local municipalities to adjust income or abatement levels in line with their own fiscal constraints.