Rockville Centre Letters to the Editor July 8, 2010

Contact Albany for support on assessment plan

To the Editor:

When I took office on January 1, 2010, I knew Nassau County was in bad shape. Our residents are overtaxed, we're facing a $286 million deficit that was caused by government waste, and our property tax assessment system is broken.

I listened to residents tell me time and again that they simply could not afford to pay any more taxes. So, on day one I repealed the Home Energy Tax that was imposed on our residents, which saves more than $39 million. I also eliminated a 13 percent tax hike that was planned by the previous administration. 

Then, in April, I signed an executive order that stopped Nassau County's annual assessment system and replaced it with a four-year cyclical system that begins in 2011. 

This is part of a plan that will, once and for all, reform Nassau County's oppressive real property tax assessment system. This system has resulted in more than $1 billion — yes, billion — being wasted in correcting past assessment errors, which accounts for more than half of the county's debt. Our children are already in debt because of this never-ending cycle of assessing, challenging and borrowing. 

It costs taxpayers a total of $250 million each year, and the average home and business owner pay 30 percent more in county property taxes to fund this broken system — a shameful waste of money! My reforms will finally give taxpayers the right to correct their taxes before the government demands payment. However this is only the first step, and there's still a long way to go. 

That's why I need the help of our residents. Call or write your senator, or Assembly representative, and ask them to support my plan to fix our assessment system. There is zero time left, and reform must happen now. 

I don't have to tell you that these are tough times in Nassau County. But by working together and putting aside partisan agendas, the county will begin to move in the right direction again. Together, we can and will fix Nassau County. 

Ed Mangano

County Executive

Young patriots show they care

To the Editor:

During the Revolutionary War, American citizens voluntarily helped militia and regular soldiers of the Continental Army tend to their wounds and assisted them and their families during their recovery.

This humanitarian service has continued throughout our nation's history, and was most generously displayed again by the South Side Middle School Art Club. In the June 24-30 issue of the Herald, the story "Funds for America's wounded warriors" describes members of the club and their advisors making a handsome contribution to the Wounded Warrior Fund, which is dedicated to assisting American soldiers who are wounded in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

As a Vietnam veteran, a former veteran's counselor and a veteran's advocate for the past 50 years, I can attest to the importance of such donations, especially when accompanied by a sincere expression of caring by the donors.

Men and women who have suffered horrible wounds in the service of our country often question whether their sacrifices were appreciated by the American people. But when they receive the thanks from the public at home along with donations to make their recovery easier, it raises their morale considerably.

So my thanks to the patriots of the South Side Middle School Art Club for their outstanding efforts in caring for our nation's wounded warriors.

Mickey Clark

Rockville Centre