Reassessment's impact on seniors and veterans at Monday hearing

                                                                                   

Legis. John Ferretti

The Nassau Legislature will hold a hearing about reassessment's impact on seniors and veterans at 9 a.m. Monday.

Not sure what they plan to discuss, but the hearing can be watched -- and comment submitted -- electronically.

The notice says: "While the hearing will be closed to the public due to COVID-19 concerns, it can be streamed at http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/Legis/index.html and public comment can be submitted by emailing the Clerk of the Legislature at LegPublicComment@nassaucountyny.gov. That public comment will be added into the record."

Legis. John Ferretti (R-Levittown) who chairs the Veterans and Senior Affairs committee and an outspoken critic of County Executive Laura Curran's 2018 reassessment, said, "Seniors and veterans are some of our most financially vulnerable residents and so we will be asking pointed questions as to how they have been and will continue to be impacted by the county executive's reassessment tax."

The term "reassessment tax" deserves explanation. 

Since Newsday reported last month that the county's own analysis found that November's school tax bills went up for 65 percent of county homeowners in the first property tax bills that used the new reassessment values, Republicans have called the increase the "Curran tax." Curran, a Democrat, is running for re-election this year. Republican Ferretti has been mentioned as a potential challenger.

In addition, there has been talk about veterans exemptions somehow being screwed up in the general tax bills, but nobody is talking much about what that entailed,  how many people were affected and whether the snafu has been fixed.

Ferretti said that Robin Laveman is not expected to attend. Laveman, chair of the Assessment Review Commission since she was appointed in 2015 by former Republican County Executive Edward Mangano, has been named by Curran to replace David Moog as county assessor. Laveman's  appointment must be confirmed by the Republican-controlled county legislature. 

Republicans have held up confirmation because, according to Presiding Officer Richard Nicolello (R-New Hyde Park), Laveman does not have the assessment credentials required by charter.

Ferretti said the Republican's counsel was told Laveman would not attend because she "is taking classes."

Awaiting administration comment.

Meanwhile, Curran on Thursday submitted the appointment of Garden City lawyer Joan M. Gibbons Quinn to take Laveman's place as Chair of ARC, the county agency that review assessment grievances, for an annual salary of $145,000.

Quinn's appointment also needs legislative approval, but people familiar with Quinn's work in tax appeals in the private sector and as a law secretary to a now retired Supreme Court justice describe her as a sharp attorney who "knows her stuff."


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