The Levittown Property Owners Association met on Dec. 9, 2003 with guest speaker Fred N. Perry, attorney at law, who discussed the ramifications of the latest reassessment changes as they affect homeowners in Nassau County.

Before Mr. Perry arrived, the association considered the recent legislation by the federal government on Medicare revisions. Many residents are concerned about the possible negative impact these changes may entail, therefore the members agreed unanimously to invite their two Long Island representatives in Congress, Representative Peter T. King, Republican and Carolyn McCarthy, Democrat, to the Feb. 10 meeting. The members also voted to request from them a copy of the recent Medicare bill just passed. Fears were expressed that individuals could be penalized by loss of union or other private health insurance plans. Representative King voted to support new Medicare legislation; Representative McCarthy was in opposition. Members want explanations of how their positions will affect their constituents.

Responding to a question concerning the Christmas decoration contest the LPOA had sponsored for many years, President Morrow said that the LPOA has discontinued the last two years because the Levittown Community Council now sponsors the competition.

Attorney Perry began his remarks by noting that "most people are confused, but feel their taxes went up after reassessment." But he added that "Levittown came out relatively lucky, that we were spared less pain than other communities." He added that 2/3 of the reassessments were right and 1/3 which were not should be protested. As reassessment occurs every five years until 2009, he said that the tax shock comes when tax notices arrive. The most important point to consider, he noted, is the market value of the property.

During the information or protest period taxes don't increase. The state passed a law 20 years ago saying no tax should go up more than 6 percent but this was ignored or avoided by the county, he said. "They danced around it, with new numbers every year."

When asked why land values in different sections of Levittown are different, yet the houses may be the same, Perry replied that appraisers can make adjustments, but also they make mistakes. He added that you can't protest based on the neighbor's lower assessment, but you must prove you know the real market value of your home. He noted that some states have your income tax as the basis for property taxes. But people are "scared and confused" by the way the county "fixed" the assessment system at an attempt for "fairness" which Perry said should have been phased in over a five-year period. He advised that if your property taxes go up more than 10 percent then consult a lawyer. He added that if property values go up, it does not necessarily mean taxes go up.

Perry has been in litigation since 1981; in 1988 his firm began full-time representation of over 15,000-17,000 clients in tax protests. Ninety-nine percent of his practice represents Nassau County homeowners. He stated a typical protest can take about a year and that 95 percent of his clients don't have results yet after reassessment because new figures can take about four years to complete the protest process. He distributed a form called "Nassau Property Tax Grievance" for persons seeking representation by his office. The form states it "retains his office to file and pursue any assessment reduction petition and/or action in 2004 relating to unequal and/or excessive assessment and act as my representative in any proceedings before the Assessment Review Commission or Supreme Court." His fee is "50 percent of the first year of tax savings applicable to the property for the total assessment reduction obtained for each protest year filed." However, one does not need a tax reduction service to file for or receive a tax reduction and the agreement with Perry's service can be cancelled within three days. Perry has offices in Dix Hills and Garden City, telephone number 1-631-271-9500.

There is concern from people on fixed incomes (retirees) who possibly cannot pay punitive tax increases. Perry agreed with everyone that the new untested law, used only in Nassau County and NYC, not in the rest of the state, is confusing even for lawyers. At the close of the meeting members spoke with Perry individually.

The next meeting of the LPOA will be on Jan. 13 in the Levittown Public Library meeting room at 7:30 p.m.