Assessor Levinson Seeks Legislative Reform to Provide Relief to Nassau County Homeowners

(Mineola, NY) Assessor Harvey Levinson today announced that he has recently met with New York State Senate Deputy Majority Leader Dean Skelos, Assemblyman Thomas DiNapoli and Senator Kemp Hannon in Albany to request their assistance in introducing a four-point legislative initiative that will provide tax relief measures to Nassau County homeowners and businesses who experienced tremendous increases in their school, county and town property tax obligations in 2003-04.

Assessor Levinson’s four-point plan would: (1) Allow for a multi-year phase-in of all increases in assessments that occur as a result of changes in a property’s full market value for properties with an assessed value under 1.5 million dollars; (2) Allow owners with large property tax increases to pay in installments for the second half of the current (2003-04) property tax year only; (3) Allow the Board of Assessors to base assessments for taxing purposes on the full market value of a property; (4) Provide a cap that limits assessment increases to Class 1 (Residential) properties with an assessed value under 1.5 million dollars commencing with the 2006-07 tax year. The cap would be set at 6% above the average increase in residential assessments. By 2006-07, it is anticipated that few properties will see increases in assessed value high enough to trigger the cap.

“I’ve heard the cries for help from our over-taxed residents who struggle each day to maintain their quality of life and from the small business owners who are the life-blood of our local economy,” stated Assessor Levinson. “With the help of our State delegation in Albany, I believe that we will be able to resolve many of the problems that have plagued our County since the consent decree on reassessment took effect.”

One of the major components of Assessor Levinson’s legislative proposal – the multi-year phase-in of increases that occur as a result of annual reassessment of properties – would allow taxpayers to slowly adjust to the levels of taxation that are imposed by the myriad of taxing jurisdictions each year. If adopted, the legislative provision would apply to the 2004-5 school and 2005 county/town tax bills. Currently, only Class 2 (Co-ops, Apartment Buildings and Condominiums greater than 3 stories) and Class 4 (Commercial) properties are subject to a five-year phase-in.

The second component of Assessor Levinson’s legislative initiative would eliminate the need for the Board of Assessors to set varying levels of assessment and make the process less confusing for the taxpayer. This year, the level of assessment for Class 1 (Residential) properties was set at ½ of 1% of the assessed market value of the home. Each time the level of assessment is lowered, a taxing jurisdiction is forced to rapidly increase its tax rates to generate the same amount of revenue. By eliminating the confusing fractional assessment levels, home and business owners would be in a better position to equate their assessed value with the taxes they pay.

“I want to publicly thank Senators Skelos and Hannon, and Assemblyman DiNapoli for meeting with me and for expressing an interest in my legislative proposal,” concluded Assessor Levinson. “Together, we have taken an important first step at creating an assessment system that is fair and equitable for all property, home and business owners.”