Update on Special Districts reform

In Monday's (6/2/08) post I discussed the special districts reforms touted by former Gov. Spitzer in February. I was concerned that these reforms worth millions of dollars in tax savings for Long Islanders had been lost in the gubernatorial shuffle. However, it turns out that we have no one to blame but ourselves.

In today's Newsday an editorial in the opinion pages addressed the lack of action on special districts reform (See Newsday, 6/6/08 LI delegation should step up - Reform bills are withering in Albany, and there's no excuse for that). It turns out that Long Island’s flat-footed state legislators have done nothing about it. Yes folks, the very people that we elected to promote our interests in Albany have dropped the ball on an easy fix that would save us some money. Not one of Long Island's 30 legislators (21 Assembly 9 Senate) has bothered to sponsor any reform bills at all. Without sponsorship, these reforms will die along with any hope of property tax relief.