ASSESSOR LEVINSON CALLS FOR PROPERTY TAX REFORM: 
WILL TRAVEL TO ALBANY NEXT MONTH

April 18, 2006
Media Contact: Randolph Yunker - (516) 571-2490

(Mineola, NY)  Harvey Levinson, Chairman of the Nassau County Board of Assessors, announced today that he will attend a press conference held by the Joint Committee for School Property Tax Reform and the Property Tax Reform Task Force in Albany on May 8 to call on State legislators to end the dependence on property taxes as a means to fund school district budgets.

“The assessed value of a home is not an indicator of a family’s ability to pay school taxes,” stated Assessor Levinson.  “We have to explore alternatives to providing school district funding to help families on Long Island who find themselves ‘house rich and cash poor’ and struggle to pay their property taxes.”

Assessor Levinson, who has spear-headed the property tax reform movement in Nassau County since assuming office in January of 2004, renewed his call that Nassau’s legislators introduce a resolution to establish a countywide committee to work with the Suffolk County Legislature to study the feasibility of ending the residential portion of the school property tax .

“Elected officials at all levels of government can no longer sit back while the property tax crisis threatens to overwhelm Long Island,” stated Assessor Levinson.  “The rallies and Albany press conference are geared as a ‘wake-up call’ to those elected officials who have yet to take a stand on one of the most critical issues of our time.”

The Albany press conference will follow a series of Property Tax Reform NOW rallies scheduled throughout New York State on Saturday, May 6. 

“I urge homeowners to contact their legislators at the state and local levels and demand that all property tax reform measures be examined and acted upon as soon as possible,” concluded Assessor Levinson