While I am very pleased to see that an open dialogue has started on the issue of special taxing districts, it is important that everyone have the correct information. That is why I would like to set the record straight on several points made by Hicksville Water Commissioner Karl Schweitzer in the Jan. 11 [Hicksville Illustrated News] article "Cost Disparities in Special Districts in Nassau County."

Commissioner Schweitzer said that reducing the level of government by taking away the consumer's right to elect commissioners is not a big step in reducing taxes. I disagree. My office's audits on special taxing districts show that commissioner-run districts are more expensive to operate than town-run. Placing commissioner-run sanitation districts under town management will not only increase transparency and accountability but will reduce costs to taxpayers and eliminate millions of dollars in unnecessary spending in areas such as insurance, professional fees and no bid contracts.

I am not the only one who agrees with this. Just this week Governor Eliot Spitzer proposed reforms of special taxing districts to help reduce costs, end abuses and provide for better oversight.

The governor's special district reforms included in his 2008-2009 New York State budget were based on recommendations from the New York State Commission on Local Government Efficiency and Competitiveness, on which I serve.

The governor called for an end to salaries and benefits for special district commissioners and to subject all commissioner-run sanitation districts to be run by the town.

Sound familiar? That's what I have been advocating for over the past three years. Let those wanting to serve their communities serve on these boards, minus the perks, the same as school board members and fire commissioners do. Let the towns run the sanitation districts, with no change in service, because they have said they can do it more efficiently and cost effectively.

I firmly believe that the taxpayers of Nassau County are behind these reforms and want to see salaries and perks end, and some more money back in their pockets.

For more information and a look at the studies my office has done on this issue, please visit http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/Comptroller/index.html.

Howard Weitzman

Comptroller, Nassau County