The Sewanhaka Central High School District Board voted in favor of entering into an agreement with the law firm of Hamburger, Maxson, Yaffe, Knauer & McNally to oppose the ending of Nassau County’s guarantee of tax revenues lost in tax challenges.
Bethpage, Carle Place, Elmont , East Rockaway, Garden City, Jericho, Lynbrook, North Shore, Plainedge, Port Washington, Rockville Centre, Roslyn and West Hempstead have already agreed to join in the suit, according to Lorraine Deller, executive director of the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association.
The East Williston School Board also voted to join in the lawsuit earlier this week.
The county guarantee, which was enacted by the state legislature in 1948, acknowledges that Nassau County is responsible for tax revenue shortfall due to appeals in its tax assessments. If the county guarantee ended, school districts would be responsible for making up the money tax revenue for revenue shortfalls. Two years ago, then Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi failed in an to end the guarantee.
The Nassau County Council of School Superintendents and the Nassau-Suffolk School Board Association have endorsed the lawsuit, according to board attorney Douglas Libby. The lawsuit fees would be capped at $5,000 per school district, however the superintendent council projects 50 districts signing on, which would then bring the fees to only $2,000 per school district, Libby said.
Board member David Del Santo expressed his concern about Sewanhaka joining the lawsuit.
Del Santo noted that the geographic area that is part of the Sewanhaka district contains four elementary districts – Elmont, Floral Park, Franklin Square, and New Hyde Park. They could separately elect to join the lawsuit, he said.
“The Sewanhaka School District also participating is really adding a double cost to our taxpayers,” he said. Del Santo suggested that the board determine if the other districts were joining the suit before making their decision.
But Board president Jean Fichtl said she was not concerned if the other districts did join.
“I believe it shows a stronger support if all 56 districts participate,” said Ficthl, referring to the total number of school districts in Nassau County.
Board member Michael Jaime of Elmont said he wanted to consult with the school board members in that district before taking a decision on the issue. His suggestion to table the matter drew no support, and he abstained from voting.
Five members voted in favor of joining the lawsuit and three abstained.
