Nassau County Acting District Attorney Madeline Singas asked for an investigation by federal prosecutors Tuesday regarding taxpayer-funded mailers that claimed county legislators did not raise property taxes during the past five years, despite an increase in 2015.
Singas has asked the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District Court of New York to make a decision on the investigation by Nov. 9, to “avoid any perceived conflict related to the upcoming election,” said Brendan Brosh, a Singas spokesperson.
If the federal prosecutors declines to take the case, Singas will “evaluate appropriate options for a state-level investigation,” Brosh said.
After a brief internal review of the mailers, Singas’ office contacted the U.S. attorney’s office on Friday, Oct. 9, Brosh said. The formal request for an investigation was made on Oct. 13.
Brosh said that Singas, who running for DA against Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray, has “repeatedly called for action to criminalize mailings that use tax dollars for political self-promotion.”
“Despite repeated calls by this office, Newsday, good government groups, state and local lawmakers have refused to take action to close a gaping hole in the law that makes it very difficult to bring criminal charges for these abuses,” Brosh said. “The reported falsity of the statements mailed here may implicate federal law which is why we referred this matter for investigation.”
The Roslyn Times reported last week that Nassau County Legislative candidate Dean Hart asked both the state comptroller and the attorney general to investigate the mailers which were sent out by his opponent first-term Republican Legislator Donald MacKenzie.
The mailers, titled “The Nassau County Legislature is Holding the Line on Property Taxes,” said that there was no increase in property taxes between 2011-2015.
The phrase “For households making less than $500K” was added in small print under the claim.
The claim was made despite a 3.4 percent increase in property tax this year.
The same mailer was sent by MacKenzie, Legislature Presiding Officer Norma L. Gonsalves and a third county legislator.
The Republican legislators contend that a state tax rebate for homeowners negates the county property tax hike for homeowners who earn less than $500,000.
But homeowners would have received the rebate even if taxes hadn’t increased.
In response to Singas’ investigation, Hart, who is running for the 18th district seat, said that “there is no question that the county should not be paying for political mailers.”
“There is no way this should happen on my dime as a taxpayer,” Hart said. “It should not be permitted. There should be a law. We have to control this whole thing.”
MacKenzie said that Singas’ rationale about conducting an investigation at this point in time is curious.
“The timing of her action causes one to question whether it is simply political,” MacKenzie said, alluding to Singas’ election campaign against Murray.
“The Acting District Attorney’s office has on two separate occasions verified the legality of our mailing program. We will continue to communicate our record of success in protecting taxpayers to our constituents,” he said.
The 18th District includes North Woodbury, North Syosset, Laurel Hollow, Oyster Bay Cove, Oyster Bay, Cove Neck, Centre Island, Bayville, Mill Neck, Lattingtown, Locust Valley, Matinecock, the Brookvilles, Muttontown, East Norwich, Greenvale, East Hills and Glen Head.
