Nassau County Special Taxing District Waste

Special Taxing Districts | Sanitary District 1 | Sanitary District 2 | Sanitary District 6 | Sanitary District 7

 

No one oversees how special district commissioners spend YOUR tax dollars. The result? Abuse and your money wasted! Here are some of the ways your money is being wasted:

 

• 10,500 Special District Fiefdoms
In all, there are more than 10,500 governmental entities imposing taxes and fees across New York State. This includes towns, villages, districts and special districts such as water, sewer and lighting districts.1

 

• Districts Are Not Required to Report to Anyone
Despite increased scrutiny from county and state officials, [Long Island] districts – which receive $500 million yearly from taxpayers – enjoy a special independence under the law. They are not required to report to the state comptroller and provide limited information to town governments. And, according to a 2005 report issued by then state Comptroller Alan Hevesi, there are no legal limits on the fringe benefits district commissioners may give themselves and nonunion employees.2

 

• All in the Family
The South Farmingdale Water District hires about 15 individuals each year to assist with elections as “Election Workers”, “Election Inspectors”, and “Checkers of Maps”. For the 2006, 2007 and 2008 elections, a total of four relatives of the incumbent Commissioners and managers were hired to work as inspectors. In addition to overseeing the voting activities, these relatives also signed the Absentee Ballots certification.3

 

• Same Services Different Taxes
According to a 2005 Nassau County comptroller's audit, each [special] district levies its own property tax, resulting in vastly different tax burdens for the same basic services. The audit shows that an average house in West Hempstead pays $656 a year for garbage collection from Sanitary District 6 while a similarly valued house in East Meadow pays $308 for garbage pickup from the town sanitation department.4

 

• Overspending at Conferences
In 2007 two Commissioners and the Business Manager of the South Farmingdale Water District attended the American Water Works Association Conference and Exposition in Toronto for a total cost to the district of $12,000. When asked to provide a copy of the conference brochure, the district was unable to comply.3

 

1 Office of former Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, Attorney General Cuomo Unveils Landmark Government Consolidation Legislation, May 21, 2009

2 Peddie, Sandra. “A Benefits Bonanza: Some in LI special districts have reaped perks that eclipse those given to state, county workers.” Newsday, January 2, 2008

3 Nassau County Comptroller Audit, Limited Financial Review of the South Farmingdale Water District, 3 March 2011

4 Laikin, Eden. “Nassau Democrat calls for consolidating tax districts.” Newsday October 8, 2008

 

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