Nassau Democratic Legislative candidate Dean Hart on Friday called on the state comptroller and attorney general to investigate taxpayer funded mailers sent out by his opponent, first-term Republican county Legislator Donald MacKenzie, that made a false claim about property taxes.
The mailers, titled “The Nassau County Legislature is Holding the Line on Property Taxes,” said there had been no increases in property taxes from 2011 to 2015 with the addition of the phrase “For households making less than $500K” in small print beneath the claim for 2015.
This claim comes despite a 3.4 percent increase in property tax this year.
“Taxpayers are paying for this nonsense so that [MacKenzie] can make himself popular,” Hart said. “They send [the mailers] out on our dime to show how they aren’t raising taxes.”
He added that the mailers were “a waste of taxpayer money” and “a hunk of junk.”
Hart, an Oyster Bay optometrist who is challenging MacKenzie for the 18th District seat, filed an official complaint with state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and also sent a letter to Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman.
The 18th District includes East Hills, Roslyn Heights, Greenvale, Glen Cove, Bayville, East Norwich, Glen Head, Old Westbury, Mill Neck, Locust Valley, Muttontown, Jericho, Syosset, Woodbury,
Kate Gurnett, state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s press secretary, said Hart’s complaint was received on Friday and that it is “under review.”
Efforts to reach the offices of MacKenzie for comment and Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman were unavailing.
Newsday reported Friday that MacKenzie was among three Republican legislators who had sent out the postcards.
Republicans said a state tax rebate negated the property tax hike for homeowners who earn less than $500,000 a year, Newsday said.
But, the paper said, homeowners would have received the rebate even if taxes had increased.
MacKenzie said Hart’s request “is nothing more than a campaign tactic to distract voters from the real issues. We will continue our legitimate communications with our constituents about our achievements,” according to Newsday.
In explaining the complaint, Hart said the idea of “transparency” was important in a democracy.
“Everything should be transparent,” he said. “Nothing should be hidden or masked. I should be able to see what they are spending my money on. The details are masked. We need transparency.”
He said greater transparent offered a path of the county’s financial problems.
“Nassau County is a rich county,” Hart said. “If we fix the abuses of power we can have no debt. There is plenty of money, but it has to be used properly. [We need to] get rid of self promotion.”
County legislators are paid $41,080 for the position, which is considered a part-time job.
