Chairman of the Nassau County Board of Assessors Harvey Levinson is rumored to be the Democratic candidate for supervisor of the Town of Hempstead against incumbent Republican Kate Murray. Posturing for the position may have already begun as Levinson proposed changes to the Nassau property tax system that are being criticized by Murray.

In a letter to county homeowners that can be found in the Letters to the Editor section of the newspaper, Levinson stated that while tax reform proposals have been offered in the past, the school tax system has never been properly addressed.

"Even though Nassau County is still one of the most desirable places in the nation to live, thanks to our award-winning school districts, it has come about at a great cost to many longtime homeowners who now find themselves 'house rich and cash poor,'" Levinson stated.

Levinson's proposal calls for replacing the school property tax on residential properties with a modest income tax of 2.5 to 3 percent and establishing a single commercial tax rate so that all school districts can share in taxes paid by commercial properties. According to Levinson, the Roosevelt Field Mall pays over $16 million in school taxes, yet only two school districts share this revenue.

In a letter to senators and assembly members, Murray criticized Levinson's proposal, stating, "Taking up to 4 percent of the money earned by wage earners in Nassau is not in the best interest of our county or of the residents we mutually serve."

Levinson argues that his proposal would contain several benefits. He states that a reduced tax rate for low-income families as well as a maximum taxable earnings cap would have to be created so that each homeowner and renter would pay their fair share of school income taxes.

Levinson states that commercial property owners, owners of apartment buildings and non-residential property owners would continue to pay school property taxes, but at a fairer and uniform tax rate.

Levinson also argued that the number of tax grievances would dramatically be reduced. Murray shot back that the court would not order tax refunds if the assessor's office was properly valuing real estate.

She also attacked the suggestion that property taxes paid by commercial property owners be used to finance school districts countywide. "What is being recommended is that local government, through its ability to tax, join the federal and state governments in attempting to redistribute the wealth of our constituents. Nothing can be more wrong. Counties are in business to provide services and finance them fairly - not to play the role of Robin Hood when it comes to funding our schools," Murray said.

Levinson stated that he is not advocating a Robin Hood approach to funding local school budgets since he said all revenues generated by the residential income tax within the boundaries of a school district would be returned in total to that school district. "Other than changing the source of the revenue from a property tax to an income tax, no other changes are made to the school district or its boundaries," he stated.