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County asks residents to approve abolishing elected assessor

Local N.C. lawmakers, Dave Mejias (D), and Peter Schmitt (R) are on opposite sides of the issue that is subject of a proposition on November's ballot. County Republican lawmakers are trying to get the word out about a proposition that they said will have a tremendous impact on county government but has not been well publicized. The proposition, on the ballot Nov. 4 asks voters whether the Nassau County Tax Assessor, currently an elected post, should still be changed to an appointed one.

The role of the assessor is to value real property, and to act upon applications for tax exemptions. N.C. Leg. Peter J. Schmitt (R-Massapequa) has been trying to educate the public about what is at stake here, he said.

"If the Tax Assessor is appointed (by the County Executive), it will take away any allegiance he or she has to residents," said Schmitt, adding that the county's Democrats put the proposition on the ballot by a 10-9 vote. "They are not working to get the word out (about the proposition) because they are hoping people will vote without knowing what it is," said Schmitt.

But Democrats say that's simply not so.

"By making this change we take the tax assessor's role out of politics," said N.C. Leg. Judy Jacobs, presiding officer of the legislature. "We will be basing the position on state-listed qualifications, rather than just who knows who...right now there are no qualifications requirements to run for the office and serve."

N.C. Leg. Dave Mejias (D-Massapequa) agrees. "What this will do is allow the county to move forward with doing away with the cycle of yearly assessments," he said. "It will put into place a system that will enable the assessor to process grievances faster and in a fairer way."

While the county can do that even with an elected assessor in place, Mejias said politics have gotten in the way, slowing down the change. "Right now the legislature cannot direct the assessor to move forward quickly with this process because he is an elected official," said Mejias. "An appointed assessor with take direction from the legislature."

"I believe the proposal robs Nassau County residents of their Constitutional rights of representation, and their right for a policy-making government official," said Schmitt. If voted in, it would eliminate 1.3-million Nassau County residents' rights, and hand the choice over to Suozzi. Its un-American and unprecedented in Nassau County."

Mejias said that county residents don't vote for policy-making positions such as that of the Police Commissioner, so this change would be no different. "It just makes sense," he said.

Schmitt said he believes the Democrats pushed the proposal forward "to protect their fiefdom." County Tax Assessor Harvey B. Levinson, a Democrat, plans to leave office before his term expires in 2009, and the Democrats want to appoint his successor, said Schmitt.

According to the Levinson's Nassau County web page, he is the only elected county Assessor in New York State, and was elected in 2004.

"Today more than 85 percent of all assessors in New York State are appointed," pointed out Jacobs. "Twenty-five years ago, more than half were elected. This shows that by eliminating the elected positions the assessor is allowed to focus on the business of managing the assessment system, rather than running for election and fundraising."

Just because other counties have given up the right to elect their assessors does not mean that Nassau should follow suit, said Schmitt. "I believe that the tax paying residents of this county should retain their right to select and elect the County Tax Assessor and hold him or her accountable for oversight of the county tax system," Schmitt said. "I will do all I can to oppose this legislation and preserve our rights. I ask you to consider this proposal carefully, and I strongly urge you to let your voice be heard by voting against this proposal. Vote no in November."