The escalating property tax burdens imposed each year by school districts throughout Nassau County have reached crisis proportion in that many homeowners can no longer afford to live in their homes. In the last few years, school property taxes have increased dramatically.

The facts are undeniable: The school property tax system is broken and must be replaced in order to promote fairness and equity for all Nassau County taxpayers based on their ability to pay.

On Oct. 4, I held a press conference to propose that the school property tax system in Nassau County be replaced with a modest income tax for Class 1 (residential) properties. In addition, I also advocated that a single commercial property school tax rate be created for all school districts and that the tax monies collected be redistributed to all school districts under a revenue sharing formula.

To this end, I respectfully requested that Governor George Pataki meet with me to discuss the appointment of a non-partisan blue-ribbon commission to study the merits of my recommendation. My request was politely declined due to "scheduling constraints."

This issue is too important to be ignored.

If you agree with me and would like to see the appointment of a non-partisan and fully-funded committee to examine my proposal to end the school property taxes in Nassau County as we know it and replacing it with a modest countywide income tax, I encourage you to write Governor George Pataki at Executive Chambers, Albany, New York 12224 or through his website at http://www.state.ny.us/governor/. Telephone: (518) 474-8390.

Harvey B. Levinson

Chairman, Board of Assessors

Nassau County