WEST HEMPSTEAD LIBRARY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT WILL
RAISE LIBRARY TAX LEVY OVER 63%
MEDIA CONTACT: Randolph Yunker (516) 571-2490
September 29, 2006
(Mineola, NY) Tax levy information provided by the West Hempstead Public School district to Nassau County Board of Assessors Chairman Harvey Levinson revealed that the West Hempstead Public Library construction project will increase the total library tax levy for 2006-2007 by 63.58% or $1,148,648 dollars.
“A 63% increase by any level of government, including a library district, is unconscionable,” stated Assessor Levinson. “The net effect is that many homes in the West Hempstead School District will see increases of 50% or more in library taxes.”
According to Assessor Levinson, the West Hempstead School District did a tremendous job holding this year’s school tax levy to a modest 2.74% increase. However, when homeowners look at their total school bill property tax obligation, the library tax levy increase will result in an average home paying about $459 in library taxes as opposed to $277 paid in 2005-06 – an increase of 66%!
“It would be unfortunate and unfair for homeowners to blame their higher school tax bill on the school district, when the additional increase was caused, in large measure, by the library district’s decision to absorb a capital project’s cost overruns through a direct tax levy – not to mention a $652,000 interest payment on the bond,” Assessor Levinson stated. “Most alarming is the fact that the West Hempstead Library Board of Trustees did not understand the consequences of their action in raising the tax levy by 63%.”
For the past two years, Assessor Levinson has repeatedly called for greater oversight of special taxing districts (including library districts) that spend millions of dollars of taxpayer money.
“The West Hempstead Library District’s 63% tax levy increase clearly shows that their budgetary practices are suspect and should be audited frequently – like school districts – by the Office of the State Comptroller,” concluded Assessor Levinson. “It’s time that board members who are responsible for controlling millions of dollars in tax money be required to take special financial training courses administered by the state to improve their budgeting skills, so that 63% increases never occur again.” |
