Nassau County taxpayers are reeling from all the recent news reports indicating the county is facing a fiscal shortfall of close to $300 million. Many residents are rightfully concerned and believe this is a situation that cannot be resolved easily and that an increase in their taxes is inevitable. They feel hopeless and resent having to suffer the consequences of actions that are not within their control.

Nassau County villages have been suffering through a similar injustice for decades. The only difference is that something can and should be done to correct this inequity.

The inequity I am referring to is the sharing of county sales tax revenues with villages. Per capita, Nassau County is one of the nation's wealthiest counties. This year, its 1.3 million residents and businesses are expected to generate $720 million in sales tax revenues. In addition to funding county operations, some $42 million is doled out to the three towns and two cities, yet not a single penny is allocated to villages.

The 64 incorporated villages in Nassau County provide essential public services to nearly 500,000 residents. To provide these services, village governments must rely primarily on property taxes. Receiving a share of the sales tax revenues generated from residents and businesses, many of which are located in villages, would help control property taxes. But this is not happening in Nassau County because the county legislature refuses to act responsibly. Instead of recognizing this inequity and taking steps to address it, they hide behind the guise of a county deficit.

It's an easy and convenient excuse. They say, "How can we share sales tax revenues when the county is in fiscal straits?" At first glance, this sounds logical. But, in reality, it is anything but logical or fair. It was the county's fiscal problem that was preventing these legislators from sharing revenues with villages, then how do these same legislators justify sharing some $42 million with the three towns and two cities - some of which are smaller than several villages?

The time for excuses and inaction has passed. County legislators who represent villeges will be held accountable this November if they fail, once again, to correct this injustice. Village residents throughout Nassau County should take note and remind their legislators whose interests they are elected to represent.

Warren J. Tackenberg, President
Nassau County Village Officials Association