By MATT HAMPTON
The protesters were there on behalf of Residents for Efficient Special Districts, a local lobbying group dedicated to the reorganization of Nassau County’s taxing districts. Group members claim that by merging special districts and firing redundant officers and employees, the county could save millions of dollars.
Pat Nicolosi, president of the Elmont East End Civic Association, said his concern with special districts comes down to that one issue. “It’s a taxing issue — the myth about local control is exactly that, it’s a myth,” Nicolosi said. “It’s time our elected officials stop talking to us about taxes and start doing something to cut taxes.”
RESD Executive Director Laura Mallay unveiled what the group has named the “Evil Eight,” eight examples of wasteful spending that could be reduced or eliminated if special taxation districts were merged or expanded. They included a pollution-control district going 40 years without collecting competing bids for an engineering firm; water commissioners collecting per diems for attending a golf outing; and a water district stockpiling cash without spending on programs. All took place in North Hempstead, but the group contends that wasteful spending is rampant in special districts throughout the county.
“Special taxing districts cost Nassau taxpayers millions,” Mallay said. “We pay the second-highest property taxes in the nation, but it doesn’t have to be that way.”
Mallay claims that Sanitation District 6, which includes Elmont, pays among the highest sanitation tax rates in the nation. Franklin Square, on the other hand, pays the Town of Hempstead’s tax rates, which are considerably lower. Franklin Square residents pay $26.72 per $100 of assessed home value, while residents of Elmont pay $46.58.
Johnson said that RESD members and other residents have yet to indicate how, specifically, a reorganization would make special districts operate more efficiently or save any taxpayer dollars. “No one has shown me what the savings are going to be,” Johnson said, watching the beginnings of the protest from his office window. After stepping outside to greet the assembled crowd, he offered to meet with the group as its members prepared their statements, but most declined in favor of their demonstration.
Johnson’s chief of staff, Rafe Lieber, pointed out that in times of economic crisis — and particularly recently — special districts are governmental entities that do not suffer, and continue to provide service without any threat of a reduction.
Nicolosi said that a failure to address high tax rates in areas like Elmont would be disastrous for residents who have made their lives there, because if taxes stay at their current rate, he believes there is no way for the community to grow. “It’s a different generation,” he said. “Young people are leaving Long Island. We cannot afford to keep paying for these special taxing districts.”
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