The 12 members of the Nassau Legislature’s Republican Majority caucus, led by Presiding Officer Norma L. Gonsalves, filed a resolution today calling on New York State to extend a tax abatement for Nassau County seniors.
Legislators learned on Friday of the expiration of a senior tax abatement that was enacted back in 2002 to offset a 19.3% property tax increase imposed by then-County Executive Tom Suozzi. The original abatement was set by New York State for a term of 15 years.
Today, Legislator Donald MacKenzie joined together with Presiding Officer Gonsalves and the Republican caucus to file a “Home Rule Message” resolution and called upon New York State to extend the tax abatement, and to refund any excess taxes paid due to the expiration of the abatement.
Legally, the County cannot pass the legislation to enact the extension, the state must do so. “Thus, we hope that our state legislators accept our Home Rule Message and submit the appropriate extension legislation at the state level immediately,” said Presiding Officer Gonsalves. The Nassau Legislature’s next meeting is on January 23, 2017.