By Nick Buglione and Angela Marshall
On average, they will see an almost 6 percent reduction in taxes thanks to Nassau's recent property reassessment program.
Tax-impact letters mailed out to East Meadow on July 15 informed the residents of their home's new full market value and an estimated assessed value. The market value is the amount a buyer would pay a seller for property for sale on the open market when both are informed and neither feels pressure to complete the transaction. The assessed value is a multiplier used in conjunction with tax rates to determine the tax bill for a property.
A survey of East Meadow properties, conducted by the county's property reassessment agent Cole Layer Trumble, a private firm, found the average home in the East Meadow School District is worth $296,467. East Meadow homeowners and civic leaders overall expressed that they felt the reassessments were accurate.
"I went online to look at recent house sales to make sure that the assessment was about right," said Ann Jukofsky, who owns a ranch-style house in the Lakeville Estates section of East Meadow. "I found that it was on target."
Kathy Grossman, who lives on Marie Court in East Meadow, said the issue of reassessment was something that initially worried her, as she expected her taxes to increase.
"I was very pleasantly surprised to find out they were going down," she said. "I was kind of nervous about getting this thing."
Meanwhile, Martin Lahchanen, president of the Wenwood Oaks Civic Association, welcomed the tax decrease but said it could stand to be lower.
"I think that the general feeling is that people are happy but wished that the taxes could be made even lower," he said, noting that East Meadow residents already pay hefty taxes.
Property values, however, vary from street to street. So, some homeowners will see a decrease in taxes while others might see an increase. Warren Kalmenson, president of the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce, said he personally will save $400 in taxes while others he knows will save nearly $1,000 a year. He went on to note that he has not heard from anyone whose taxes will go up.
Nassau County began the reassessment process in 2000 following a lawsuit by five African Americans claiming the current system overtaxes poorer homeowners.
The first Democratic-led county legislature agreed with the plaintiffs and called for reassessment--a process last undertaken six decades ago. They were soon joined by then County Executive Thomas Gulotta and Charles O'Shea, chairman of the Board of Assessors.
About two months ago O'Shea met with the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce at their monthly meeting to discuss the project.
"The success of this first residential reassessment in over 60 years can only be achieved through the active participation of all property owners and I am confident that this project will become a successful model for other assessment departments throughout the country," O'Shea said.
The reassessment process will not be completed until January 2003. Condo, co-op and commercial property owners will receive tax-impact letters in late August.
East Meadow residents have until Nov. 15 to challenge the full market value assigned to their home. Residents who believe the figure in their letter is incorrect should make an appointment with a representative of Cole Layer Trumble by calling (516) 873-9701.
After Nov. 15, residents must file a formal grievance with the Nassau County Assessment Review Commission to protest. The first county and town tax bills to use the new numbers will be in January 2004.
