Mineola, NY - Led by Legislators Dave Denenberg (D-Merrick), Jeff Toback (D-Oceanside), and Roger Corbin (D-Westbury), members of the Democratic majority unveiled proposed changes to the newly reformed Assessment Review Commission during the Legislature's meeting this week that will amend not only the powers and duties of the Commission, but also the application process and procedures for review and ultimately save Nassau County millions of dollars annually.

The Assessment Review Commission, recently overhauled by the County Executive, is responsible for reviewing applications for tax relief filed by residential and commercial property owners. However, questionable practices within the previous Commission led to huge backlogs in reviewing the tax grievance filings, lengthy delays in settling claims, and ultimately millions of dollars lost to the County.

Democratic Legislators said while the appointment of a new Commission is the first step toward revamping the tax grievance process, much more needs to be done. "There are many things wrong with the way these applications have been handled in the past that need to be changed," said Legislator Denenberg on behalf of the Democratic majority. "The process itself creates a system that is faulty at its foundation. If we are ever going to get out from under the flood of applications and the resulting debt it has created the whole law needs to be amended."

There are numerous provisions within the proposed local law, including one that sets minimum staffing requirements. Another, key among them, gives the ARC the power to reject an incomplete application, thereby denying administrative review. This can be done after providing the applicant with an opportunity to complete the application that was submitted. It also grants the ARC the right to make rules of practice for proceedings and internal review of determinations with the approval of the County Executive and County Attorney and subject to approval of the County Legislature.

In addition, the law would require that the ARC keep a record of each application that is denied as evidence of the date of filing, the date notice was sent as to an incomplete application and the date the completed application was thereafter received, the settlement requested, documents utilized by the ARC in making a determination, names of commissioners or authorized hearing officers, and dates denying or settling the application.

Legislators Toback and Corbin believe the proposed law is long overdue. "The County's bill for the way the ARC and tax grievances have been handled in the past is in the millions and will continue to grow without these changes," said Toback and Corbin. "We have an administration now, led by the new County Executive, that is willing to overhaul this Commission, beginning with those appointed. Our proposed law will guarantee the implementation of a comprehensive reform plan."