Below is a letter from Nassau County Legislature Minority Leader Kevan M. Abrahams (D - Freeport) to County Executive Blakeman and Acting Assessor Cronin regarding more errors that were discovered in the 2023 General Tax bills and another tax bill that was erroneously issued to the Notre Dame Parish in New Hyde Park.
January 5, 2023
Hon. Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County Executive
1550 Franklin Avenue, Second Floor
Mineola, N.Y. 11501
Matthew R. Cronin, IAO
Chief Deputy Assessor, Nassau County Department of Assessment
240 Old County Road, Fourth Floor
Mineola, N.Y. 11501
RE: Inquiry regarding errors in 2023 General Tax bills and the Notre Dame Parish tax bill; signing of the 2024/2025 Assessment Roll by the Chief Deputy Assessor
Dear County Executive Blakeman and Acting Assessor Cronin:
We write today to inquire about the potential existence of hundreds of purported errors in the 2023 general tax bills - the discovery of which has sparked new concerns among our constituents.
These latest concerns about the potential existence of another round of significant errors in Nassau County’s tax bills are being raised just months after 842 property owners were overcharged on their 2022/2023 school tax bills because the County failed to correctly apply the Taxpayer Protection Plan (TPP) five-year phase-in to their properties. We are furthermore distressed by initial evidence and analysis which indicates that this same error may have occurred on the general tax bills of those same 842 homeowners.
Similarly, the Notre Dame Parish in New Hyde Park, a tax-exempt church that last October received an erroneous school tax bill of approximately $670,000, has again received a second erroneous tax bill, this time in the amount of approximately $480,000 for its 2023 general taxes. The Legislature still awaits the submission of a resolution to correct the erroneous 2022/2023 school tax bill that was issued to the Parish.
Adding to our already significant concerns, the Minority Caucus is aware that neither an assessor nor an acting assessor is currently leading the Nassau County Department, a fact made evident by the published 2024/2025 Tentative Assessment Roll, which was signed by Mr. Cronin as “Chief Deputy Assessor.” Such an action is a potential violation of Article VI of the Nassau County Charter and Chapter VI of the Nassau County Administrative Code. Moreover, it offers a disturbing reminder of the administration’s secrecy and lack of transparency regarding this issue. All of this begs the question: If a permanent Assessor had been appointed, would these repeat errors have occurred?
We urge the Department of Assessment to take all necessary steps to determine the full extent of any new errors that may have occurred and address them swiftly through the Legislative process to ensure that no property owner overpays on their taxes. It remains our strong belief that an independent investigation and public hearings focused upon the future trajectory of the Department of Assessment and its Assessor are necessary for the purpose of rebuilding confidence in this essential function of Nassau County government.
We look forward to your reply on this matter of utmost importance to Nassau County residents.
Sincerely,
Kevan M. Abrahams
Minority Leader
Nassau County Legislature
CC: Hon. Richard J. Nicolello, Presiding Officer, Nassau County Legislature
Hon. Thomas P. DiNapoli, New York State Comptroller
Click here to see the letter.