Here are numerous sources that will help you learn more about Special Taxing District waste, fraud and abuse:

 

ReformNYGov.com: Is the Attorney General’s “Citizen’s guide to consolidation” which served as the partial inspiration for this document. It is a broader version of this piece and serves as perfect, and necessary supplementary reading for any person or group interested in Special Taxing District reform.

 

New York State “Freedom of Information Law” (FOIL): By law, citizens can gain access to documents from state and government agencies by filing a FOIL request. Oftentimes, this is essential in the efforts to ascertain whether the consolidation of a district will be cost effective or not.

 

Sunlightny.com: Or, “Project Sunlight” is a service of provided by the New York State Attorney General’s Office, which provides user-friendly search engines that empower citizens to follow the trail of campaign contributions given by Special District commissioners to elected officials. You can also find out which special districts are hiring lobbyists with taxpayer funds to promote further special district waste.

 

RESD.Info: The official website of Residents for Efficient Special Districts (RESD), it provides more information and resources on how to read a tax bill, and provides many of the Special District tax rate comparisons that were mentioned earlier in this document.

 

 

LongIslandIndex.org: A nonpartisan organization’s website that provides the most detailed interactive maps of local government entities available anywhere.

Please see Appendix B: “The Best of” consolidation media clips.

 

LIPC.org: The Long Island Progressive Coalition (LIPC) is a grassroots community-based organization founded in 1979, dedicated to promoting sustainable development, revitalizing local communities, enhancing human dignity, creating effective democracy, and achieving economic, social & racial justice.