What Consolidation Means for YOU

Consolidation of special districts. If you listen to the governor and his top ally, Suozzi, its the Holy Grail of government. Pass this bill, they say, and taxes will magically fall. Services will improve. And all will be well in Nassau. That's the talk.

Here's the truth. The special districts targeted by this measure are the most efficient districts in the state. They're local. They're run by involved citizens, citizens who pay taxes and try to do the best job possible for the least amount of money. Basically, they reduce your taxes. They're districts run by local citizens who care. It is the purest form of democracy in American.

Paterson and his supporter Suozzi say that this will reduce taxes. Wrong. Do you really think that cutting the local districts and turning over their critical functions of local government and sanitation services to the county will do any good? First, Suozzi will lard the payroll with his friends and supporters. They will then proceed to milk your district for all its worth, use county time to support Suozzi's private political agenda, and divert the tax dollars that used to support zoning or the garbage truck to God knows what. Don't believe me? Check out your property tax bill from the county. Up almost 80% since Suozzi stormed Mineola eight years ago. I highly doubt your local special district has raised taxes by 80% since 2001. After all, the commissioners live in the community and to them, working in a special district is a labor of love. Why would they want to ruin their own standard of living to support their ambitions?

People at the county level have no such inhibitions. This administration is out of touch with the local residents and the needs and requirements of the local communities. That is why these special districts were created: to be more responsive and in tune with the residents.

Local districts like towns, villages and sanitation zones were created to empower residents. Residents, tired of dealing with bureacracies, wanted control. They wanted a cozy local board, made up of their friends and neighbors, to be able to sit down and run the village. Zoning decisions, in their opinion, needed to be made by people who knew what the local community wanted. Each village, with its own unique density, housing stock, residents and sense community, wanted to be in charge of their own destiny.

Now, after years of good government, politicians in Albany and Mineola want to take that away from you. Don't believe their rhetoric. Look at your property tax bills and look at the facts on the ground. Talk to your neighbors.

This November, let's send a message to Suozzi. Don't try to tax your way out of the deficit you've created by looting our vilalges and special districts. Let us be; don't punish us for your incompetence.