Are homeowners of Nassau County losing control of home ownership? Are the state and local governments the new owners? Have residents become merely tenants in residence forced by indifferent machinations to support a vast bureaucracy?

The Property Tax Impact Disclosure Notice recently distributed by the Board of Assessor's office reveals new assessed property values and estimated taxes. Chairman Harvey Levinson stated that these taxes are tentative and will be applied to calculated school tax obligations in Oct. 2006 and for county and town taxes in Jan. of 2007. They are based on increased market values that affect increased taxes, as well as changes in state aid, municipal and school budgets and will "likely be higher" than the amount estimated on this year's tax impact notice. "Likely to be higher" are the dreaded words. How neat and dismissive the Disclosure Notice is and the impact it has on families with single breadwinners and seniors on fixed incomes.

Homeowners taking advantage of a formal grievance process to reduce the new tentative assessment does not solve the problem of over-taxation. Commercial properties generate revenues and profits on a continuing basis. Homeowners do not. If it is the New York State real property tax law that needs to be changed to help stabilize taxes and higher assessments, then our elected state and local legislators need to get busy to do the job. Homeowners cannot allow it to destroy the security of living in their own home.

Inevitably, continued tax increases that include over spending by school districts, municipal and special districts and higher market values will dramatically change the complexion of every community multiplying the current problems. What is so badly broken?

Katherine Aliferis