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Nassau County Staring At Possible ‘Toilet Tax’

County Executive Mangano Defends Controversial Proposal

October 15, 2010 6:13 PM
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Toilet Paper - File / Photo: Jeff T. Green/Getty Images

Toilet Paper – File / Photo: Jeff T. Green/Getty Images

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Story Updated: Oct. 16, 2010 8:45 a.m.

NORTH MERRICK, N.Y. (CBS 2) — A proposed tax on sewer usage by non-profits such as hospitals, colleges, and fire departments could bring in $38 million a year.

But as CBS 2’s Jennifer McLogan reports, taxpayers worry they will now be stuck paying for it all.

Critics call the sewer fee — a “toilet tax” in Nassau County. Next year’s budget — for the first time — calls for previously tax-exempt public school districts, library districts and fire districts to increase their budgets, raise taxes, and, they fear, pass along the financial burden to taxpayers.

“It is being called taxpayer relief act when actually all we are doing is soaking the taxpayers with a toilet tax or sewer fee,” said Nassau County legislator Dave Denenberg, D-Merrick.

Democrats in the legislature are blasting the Republican county executive’s proposed “water usage fee”– that would charge one penny per gallon of water entering Nassau’s sewage system. They claim it would bankrupt hospitals, schools and more.

“We have 10 buildings and we have an irrigation system on our football and athletic fields. What would it mean in dollars and cents? Over a quarter of a million dollars,” said Hempstead School Board president Charles Renfroe.

Renfroe said water is needed for school toilets, sinks, showers and landscaping. A North Merrick fire house uses 700,000 gallons a year, translating to $7,000 in fees. Libraries, too, are worried.

“We have to either raise taxes to get that money, libraries would have to, or they have to cut programs to get the money,” said Jackie Thresher of the Nassau library system.

But the county executive said his sewer reforms would eventually lower rates for homeowners and businesses.

“I inherited a sewer district authority that’s $28 million out of balance. Nowhere else in New York state do not-for-profits get a free ride,” County Executive Ed Mangano said.

Critics said “passing along” taxes does not “freeze” taxes. A public hearing on the water usage fee will be held Monday.

If the budget is passed, the new sewer fees would go into effect in Nassau County beginning July 1, 2011.

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  • silvereagle

    You can’t drill a well in the city.Build an outhouse and you don’t have to flush anything.Oh,the epa would be on your ass then.

  • steve k

    No sympathy here from this expatriate of Nassau County…You knuckleheads keep being manipulated into school tax increases where the bulk of the money goes to folks who work 180 days per year and then there’s no money left for essentials, like WATER!
    GET OFF THE ISLAND!!!

  • John Harnes

    Until taxpayers are willing to kick these fools out of office they should expect legislation that will just keep stealing money out of their pockets. I am amazed how many career politicians grow to control vast wealth by “working full time” in political office where their salaries could never allow them to acquire such wealth. But if you help the right people I guess your future wealth is assured1

  • Alex

    People, read the article carefully before you insert random talking points about big government and this being another step to Marxist hell. It sounds to me more like:

    1. Sewer services have been a big money loser for years, probably in part because non-profits don’t think twice about the sewage costs since they can pass them along
    2. Since they don’t pay, the money has to come from somewhere. You may not have paid yet if the city is running a deficit but you will.
    3. By making this a usage tax, it forces those who use to be the ones who pay.
    4. This in turn should force them to make smarter choices. Like why were we (taxpayers) paying for an irrigation system and the sewage for it if the county is underwater financially.

    Usage taxes can be good, assuming that it’s not just a way to spend (read: waste more). They tie costs to consumption, rather than making all subsidize even if we get no value.

    This should eventually result in lower cost of government since people won’t overuse “free” (to them) services since all of us are paying.

  • Jack Kennedy

    repub is having to clean up after the dems ………… signs of things to come with obama cleanup by the adults after november

  • http://www.oldhippie.com/forums/us-politics/14298-whenever-you-relieve-yourself-they-will-tax-flush.html#post73185 " Whenever You Relieve Yourself They Will Tax It By The Flush !" – Old Hippie’s Forums

    [...] [...]

  • Eyeball

    So if you dont pay your doodoo tax, they turn off your toilet? Keep electing those Democrats NY. Your doing everything wrong.

  • Gunplay_Harris

    Why don’t we cut BUREAUCRATS first

  • http://thedailyconservative.net/2010/10/15/ny-county-staring-at-possible-toilet-tax/ NY County Staring At Possible ‘Toilet Tax’… | The Daily Conservative

    [...] (First column, 11th story, link) [...]

  • SubjectoftheUSSA

    uhh firehouses, school boards, since when do Government entities pay taxes…

    Hempstead School Board president Charles Renfroe…. I’d love to know how a school pays taxes, figuring the local taxes are PAYING FOR THE SCHOOL

  • Happy Gay

    Whats the big deal? It’s New York! Tax baby TAX!!!!

  • twinstick

    Just make sure that you flush twice. It’s a long way to Albany…

  • Barbara

    We have had a sewer tax in parts of Massachusetts for years.

    • http://inthepublicinterest.wordpress.com tnmccoy

      Don’t our town taxes pay for sewer operations? Of course they do. But in Massachusetts they found something else to tax years ago, right?

  • drwstr123

    The politician’s solution to everything is MORE TAX.

  • Philip Nolan

    Unfortunate choice of words or a bad pun. “…all we are doing is soaking the taxpayers with a toilet tax or sewer fee.”
    Gross

    • http://inthepublicinterest.wordpress.com tnmccoy

      They shouldn’t get these lousy ideas. The next thing for them is to actually tax the number of toilets in your house on an ongoing basis. Then sinks….washing machines…dishwashers—hey! There’re a lot of opportunities for fleecing the public yet!

      • John Schmuke

        In Saint Louis, Mo. The sewer tax is according to the number of bathrooms in your house, since almost forever!

  • phil

    This is simply a way for the county to raise your taxes and make the school districts and others do the dirty work of collecting it. Installing separate meters in literally thousands of buildings to see how much is for irrigation will cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars more, plus all the costs to maintain them. Typical government operation…

  • UyeahU

    “If you try to sit, they’ll tax your seat”

    The Beatles, “Taxman”

    Who knew?

  • Rebecca

    Water usage fee, sewer tax… Oneida County already has these taxes. Oneida County ranks near the top for the most taxes and lowest income in the COUNTRY. It’s one of the poorest counties in the nation.

    I see that the other NY counties are trying to catch up with raising taxes and lowering income. Good going, Nassau County!

    • Rowdy Boots

      IT IS POOR BECAUSE IT KEEPS ITS RESIDENTS POOR.

      KICK THE BUMS OUT!

  • LoveitORLeaveit

    So you libs are ok with taxing the homeowner but some how believe that non profit org’s should be exempt? Good for the republicans that want to have some justice and tax ALL the residents of this great county equally. No tax shelter for anyone, even if your and alleged government place. Perhaps spreading not only the wealth but the bill you will feel the love.

    • http://inthepublicinterest.wordpress.com tnmccoy

      Well then, instead of paying $800 for an aspirin in the hospital, patients will now pay $802. That’s how they look at it.

  • 2

    I am trying to figure out is this an additional charge over the standard fee or just a new charge because the non profits do not pay for sewer. If they do not pay for sewer now it is a bargain. And if they do not pay a sewer charge now it is not free you are all paying for it and there is no reason for them to conserve at any level. By the way the school superintendent needs to understand the process. Commercial customers do not pay for sewer charges for water that does not go into the sewer if there is a meter that shows how much went to irrigation, cooling towers, etc.

  • Auntie Sammie

    Imagine if incompetent teachers didn’t have tenure. They’d be fired too! Like you say, incompetence rises to the top in government.

    Abolish tenure! Abolish unions!

    • ct

      Abolish public schools

  • tominhouston

    Reforms will lower rates and he inherited the problem. Classic Obama clone tell ‘em up is down and blame it on somebody else.

  • UnPCdAmerican

    that’s easy! That is the what the whole climate change bs is about…capNtax=they want to tax you on the air you exhale (CO2)

  • geTaylor

    County Executive Ed Mangano is a Republican.
    Refreshing to see both parties are learning new
    ways to skin the taxpayers.

    Ready for a cup of tea?

    • ct

      Agreed, if that is what a republican is in New York, I am glad I am in Florida. Fire them all and get rid of the IRS, FDA, EPA, DOT, FED, DHS, Patriot Act, ETC, ETC, ETC…………………..

      • harleyrider1978

        Dude,you got it right on the mark……..its time to abolish the federal govmnt……

        As one of my friends says” I FIRED THE GOVERNMENT YEARS AGO”

      • bravejames

        astralweeks, you are so right!!!

    • John D

      Excuse me, but a NY republican is NOT a republican. A real republican is a conservitive. This guy is a RINO

      • Susan

        Oh the RINO is not limited to New York. They can be spotted in every part of the country. The herd needs to be rounded up and sent to pasture. Hopefully a lot of this can be accomplished on 2 November. It will be a long, hard drive so get ready to start vetting them as candidates. You will know them by their deeds.

  • michael cooper

    the next thing is toilet paper tax or bring your own

    • http://inthepublicinterest.wordpress.com tnmccoy

      I understand that’s already happening in some districts. Put a roll in your backpack!

      • Rowwdy

        Yes it is happening. Many public places, ie: city buildings do not have TP in them.

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