Nassau County Deputy Presiding Officer Roger Corbin (D-Westbury), Legislator Kevan Abrahams (D-Hempstead) and Nassau County Presiding Officer Legislator Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury) recently announced an outreach effort that will put money back in the pockets of eligible working families in Nassau through the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a special federal and state refundable tax benefit. The EITC returns federal and state government dollars to filers either through tax credits or as cash refunds to working families who earn less than $34,178. It is estimated that over $17 million in EITC funds may lay unclaimed in Nassau County and over $38.7 million Island-wide.

"This is 'free money' to those eligible working families who need it the most," said Corbin. "I am urging Nassau County residents who are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit to file."

Joined by Jack O'Connell, executive director of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island- which is the designated EITC agency in Nassau and Suffolk Counties - Jacobs explained that the Earned Income Tax Credit is a tool to help reduce the tax burden on low-to-moderate income families.

An estimated 46,515 low and moderate income workers in Nassau County claimed Earned Income Tax Credits, worth over $69 million. However, the General Accounting Office estimates that only a portion of those eligible for the EITC claimed the credit. According to the office, nationally, 25 percent of eligible taxpayers do not claim the EITC for which they are eligible.

"The Earned Income Tax Credit is one of the most successful anti-poverty initiatives ever devised," said Corbin. "We just need to get the word out that it is available."

For more information about EITC, visit www.irs.gov or get assistance from a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site. To find the closest VITA site, taxpayers can call the IRS at 1-(800) 829-1040.

New Stricter Parking Violations to Be Enforced

The people of Nassau County will no longer be able to accrue and ignore excessive parking tickets without paying the price, according to Deputy Presiding Officer Roger Corbin (D-Westbury). Corbin recently approved a bill that allows the police department to immobilize or tow any vehicle whose owner has amassed and ignored three or more parking violations.

"It's three strikes and they're out," said Corbin. "There are currently 1,850 motor vehicles in Nassau County which have accrued at least 10 tickets and summonses for parking violations and are delinquent. This astronomical figure rises to over 4,000 for vehicles which have at least three delinquent tickets." According to Corbin, these violators will get "the boot" under the county's stricter scofflaw bill passed on Dec. 16.

The boot, an immobilization used by the police department, attaches to one of the front wheels of the vehicle and makes it impossible for anyone to drive it. Upon implementation, the police will attach a notice to the vehicle detailing information regarding release of the vehicle as well as other pertinent information. If the vehicle is towed, the police department will notify the owner by first-class mail within two business days of the reason for renewal and the steps the owner must take to obtain release of the vehicle.