Presiding Officer Schmitt Repeals Home Energy Tax

The Nassau County Legislature’s Presiding Officer joined the new County Executive, Ed Mangano, to sign the repeal of Tom Suozzi’s Home Energy Tax into law. The legislators recently voted to enact the repeal and the new County Executive penned it into law on January 1, 2010.

"We’ve been fighting this tax since the previous Democrat Legislative Majority approved it in early 2009. As a result of our efforts and the strong voices of the 50,000+ Nassau residents who joined our petition drive, this onerous tax is now repealed," stated Presiding Officer Schmitt.

The Home Energy Tax imposed a 2.5% charge on all home energy sources including electricity, gas, oil, propane, coal and even firewood. “The way to fix the county’s overspending problem is to simply stop spending. This tax represents the past administration’s use of taxes and fees to fill budget gaps. We are now entering a new era led by a new County Executive and a new Legislative Majority,” said Schmitt. “The fiscal mismanagement of the past is over, and it starts with this repeal.”

Pictured is Presiding Officer Schmitt reviewing the repeal legislation with County Executive Mangano.