Letter: Tax Cap Is Really A Budget Cap

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Letter: Tax Cap Is Really A Budget Cap

Friday, 25 May 2012 00:00

Governor Andrew Cuomo and our state legislators have stated that with the passage of the 2 percent tax cap, Long Island homeowners finally have what they wanted: A means to control exorbitant property taxes increases.

What we have is an imbalance between those who have, taking from those who have not. As reported recently, the Qualcomm CEO received $35 million in 2011, an increase of $24 million more than he received in 2010. The Starbucks CEO got $41 million in 2011 and “only” $29 million in 2010. The take home pay of CEO’s grew at least 10 percent in 2011.

Why are we punishing the teachers and rewarding the Wall Street “greed is good” executives? The recession of 2008 decimated the pension funds of government employees. Unethical tactics by the market manipulators caused the pension fund problem. Legal action should have been taken to recover the loss of pension funds from those responsible for the stock market meltdown. Instead, we punish the employees who are invested in the fund and have no input on how it is operated.

Not just teachers on Long Island are being penalized. All government employees in counties, towns and cities have been adversely affected.

Current government and teacher retirees are typically self sufficient and rarely need social services. However, future government and teacher retirees, because of reduced pension and health benefits, will need the assistance programs. Those government employees who have recently been laid off immediately impact social services. This simply causes further budget cutbacks in the counties, towns and cities.

The 2 percent tax cap is not a tax cap. It is a 2 percent budget cap that determines the tax levy. When many of the Long Island homeowners receive a school tax bill of more then 2 percent, they will realize that is not what they wanted or deserved.

Tony Mignone

News

Proposed School Budget Is Under Tax Cap

Wednesday, 15 May 2013 00:00

Declining enrollment and

reserve funds are key factors

As voters in the Massapequa Union Free School District approach the Tuesday, May 21, budget vote, the proposed spending plan retains popular educational programs while keeping the rise in spending to 1.49 percent.

Despite what district officials call unprecedented increases in state-mandated employer pension contributions, as well as rising health insurance costs, the overall budget is up just over $2.7 million.

Rebuilding Together Long Island

Thursday, 16 May 2013 00:00

Rebuilding Together LI volunteers, sponsors from Long Island Board of Realtors and their associates from Albany, working on a home in Cedarhurst damaged by Sandy. After Massapequa resident Sol Goldstein and several friends helped finish building a house for a family 20 years ago for Habitat for Humanity, they had a question: “What do we do now?” They were all retired, had enjoyed working together and accomplishing something for a family in need, and wanted to do more.

“I was looking for something [to do] hands-on,” said Joe Botkin, of Williston Park, a retired principal, who had worked with Goldstein in building the home.

Sports

Coach of the Month: Vinny Zanfardino

Thursday, 16 May 2013 00:00

Vinny Zanfardino started his coaching career in 1997 when he stepped up to coach his daughter’s Little League team.

What started as a hobby turned into a full-blown obsession for Zanfardino, 48. Coaching became an outlet to do some good for children while staying close to the game he loves: baseball.

Golf Course To Be Named In Honor Of Colby

Thursday, 16 May 2013 00:00

On Saturday, May 18, the Town of Oyster Bay will conduct a ceremony to officially re-name its golf course in honor of Joseph Colby, a resident of Massapequa Park who served as the Town of Oyster Bay’s 56th supervisor. The Honorable Joseph Colby was appointed supervisor in 1977 and was elected to that office five times in the following ten years. He was then elected as a New York State Supreme Court Justice in 1988, a post he held through his retirement from public service in 1992. The unveiling will take place at the main entrance of the course off South Woods Road in Woodbury.

“When the sign for Honorable Joseph Colby Town of Oyster Bay Golf Course is unveiled, it will celebrate an outstanding career in public service,” Supervisor John Venditto said. “Joseph Colby has always had the needs of the public as his top priority and has been widely respected for his innovation and responsiveness. This golf course will now forever bear his name as a tribute to his outstanding legacy.”