Politicians are known for their doublespeak. Tom Suozzi is no exception. In a classic “pay no attention to the man behind the curtain,” Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi issued a press release last September alleging that his budget does not raise property taxes. He claimed that “there will be no increase in County taxes next year.” Unfortunately for the residents of Nassau County, this politician is no wizard.
In order to maintain a so-called “tax freeze,” Tom Suozzi, aided by the Democratic Majority, imposed a 2.5% Home Energy Tax on all residential home energy sources, including electricity, gas, oil, coal, propane, even firewood. According to the Nassau County Office of Legislative Budget Review, the Home Energy Tax is the equivalent of a 4.5% property tax increase. Not to mention that the property tax increase for the 2009 Fiscal Year was 4.2%. This tax increase is well above Suozzi’s own recommended property tax cap of 4%.
Moreover, this Home Energy Tax is inescapable . As the days grow colder and darker, residents will use more energy to heat and light their homes. This tax is going to hurt the most vulnerable members of our society: the poor and the elderly. While families can choose to cut back on vacations and expensive dinners in tough times, everyone needs to heat their homes and turn on the lights.
We cannot balance the budget or solve our fiscal problems on the backs of those least-able to bear the burden. Faced with a mounting fiscal crisis from years of mismanagement, Tom Suozzi has turned to the only solution he knows: taxes, taxes, taxes.
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