Above is the Newsday headline after the Democratic Minority voted yesterday to block $100 million in tax relief for Nassau residents.
The fees in question involve real estate transactions and traffic violation charges that are incurred annually by thousands of Nassau residents. The Republican Majority wants to cut them to keep more money in resident’s pockets where it belongs. Last night, instead of joining us in voting to approve our legislation Democratic legislators decided used a procedural tactic to delay the vote, which will now cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars to anyone filing fees or mortgage deeds with the county clerk.
Specifically, the fees involved include:
Tax Map Verification Fee: Currently, this $350 fee is charged by the assessor for the verification of the section, block and lot information contained in any deeds, mortgages or satisfactions, or any modifications or consolidations that are presented for recording.
NEW FEE UNDER MAJORITY PROPOSED BILL: ZERO
Public Safety Fee: Currently, a $55 fee is assessed on most traffic violations, including red light camera infractions.
NEW FEE UNDER MAJORITY PROPOSED BILL: ZERO
Recording Fee: Currently, this $300 fee is charged by the county for the recording and indexing of deeds, mortgages, “other instruments”, liens, or statutory notices of liens and for the satisfaction or cancellation of a lien or statutory notice of a lien. It also applies to corrections of such documents that would need to be re-indexed.
NEW FEE UNDER MAJORITY PROPOSED BILL: $50
I am proud to stand with Nassau's seniors, veterans, and working-class families to cut $100 million in county fees and will continue to fight to get this bill passed. As residents continue to struggle with the effects of the county executive's reassessment, this legislation will provide much needed relief to tens of thousands of taxpayers struggling to afford to keep living in our communities.
I will continue to press for passage of these bills and urge the county executive to support these measures by signing this legislation when it ultimately reaches her desk.
For those interested in supporting our efforts concerning this matter, I encourage you to sign my petition at:
https://app.nassaucountyny.gov/leg/forms/06/fees_pet.php?ld_code=14
As always, please feel free to contact me with any thoughts and ideas you may have with respect to the County or on any particular issue that you think I may be able to assist you with. You may contact me at (516) 571-6214 or by email at LSchaefer@NassauCountyNY.gov .