So I got to thinking about the financial mess we're in as a county. Here we are, almost two million strong, living in one of the wealthiest counties in the nation, blessed with an articulate, well-educated and prosperous populace and we're mired in a county debt that will certainly exceed $200 million this year, more than the next year and probably even more every year thereafter. And then I got to reading, that Republican County Executive Thomas Gulotta is thinking about laying off 207 police officers (about 5 percent of the force) to save about $5 million and that Judy Jacobs, the Democratic presiding officer of the Legislature will present a plan for more than $100 million in spending cuts. So, what should we do?

For each of the next three years, let's raise the Nassau County "General Tax Levy" by fifteen percent. "Whoa!" shout Nassau's already overburdened taxpayers. "I'm already paying through the nose for local taxes! My new home is over-assessed compared to those old mansions down the street! I want a tax refund! No way I'll pay another red cent until they clean up the mess in Mineola!"

Despite the expected outcry, let's take a look at a family currently paying around $6,000 a year in local taxes. About 80% of these taxes are for schools. Only 20% are for the "General Tax Levy" or county. So, a 15% tax increase would amount to about $180. For well-to-do families paying $20,000 in total local taxes it's about $600.

"That's still too much to pay for the mismanagement of my county finances! Lay-off more county workers, as long as the layoffs don't affect my life! Reassess property values first, then talk to me! I won't pay a penny more until they get rid of all the fat cats! The cops earn too much to begin with - let them take a salary cut! I'm trying to escape this county - sell my house and head down south. What potential buyer is going to be willing to pay even higher taxes than those I already pay?"

What's really happening is that we're experiencing a seven-year itch - no county tax increased over the past seven years is leading to hefty scratch starting with the eighth. And although the inflation rate has been blessedly low, if costs had increases by only two percent per year over these past seven years, they still would have added at least $200 million per year to the county's operating budget.

So we raise county taxes for the next three years but in a way that will not burden the poorest among us. Within this period, the reassessment of property values should be completed, giving us a better idea of what the future omens. In any case, next year there's an election for County Executive. Those who are shouting loudest today can express their feelings by electing county leaders who promise to maintain the county's fiscal integrity for many years to come.

"You gotta be kidding. You think I'm gonna vote for a politician who raises taxes 15 percent?"

Yup.

Jim Schisgall