1
Petito Opposes County Sales Tax
Qyster Bay Town Supervisor
Michael N. Petito has reiterated
his opposition to a possible sales
tax in Nassau County, citing the
need for a complete and thorough
review of government operations
from the state to the local level.
In February, 1965, Petito received
unanimous bi- partisan
support from the Nassau County
Board ofSupervisorsonhis resolution
opposing the state sales
tax then planned by Governor
Rockefeller and subsequently
passed by the 1965 state legislature.
*' Tt is the history of the sales
tax, wherever it is started, to
continue and grow larger with the
passing years as it presses its
hidden burdens on local residents.
I agree with those who say
that the real property tax has
reached the saturation point in
Nassau County, but I most certainly
am aot one of those who
throw up their hands in abject
surrender to advancing costs and
say: " The sales tax is our only
• salvation.'*
" The people of Nassau County
have a right to expect more than
this from their elected public officials.
It is the duty of these leaders
to take a firm position on
costs which now hang like a sword
of Damocles over county, town,
village and school officials. We
must have the courage to pause
and explore new methods of economy
zing in local government to
prevent our residents from being
caught in a sales tax squeeze?'
uLet us look for a moment at
some of the outstanding reasons
for opposing a Nassau County
sales tax. It is an almost unconsciously
collected tax which
makes it most difficult for the
taxpayer to remain aware of the
use of his money. The perpetual
installments of a sales tax are
seemingly small, but when they
are added up, they cause serious
problems for the lower and
m'ddle income groups, those
least able to face such an omnipresent
levy.''
4' For the breadwinner no more
unfair tax has ever been conceived
since it causes the low
and middle- income taxpayer to
pick up a non- graduated tax burden
which has equal impact on
the rich and the poor. The sales
tax forces its bite intoour everyday
necessities: clothing, gasoline
for the car, the automobile
itself, ols, home repairs and
many other areas.''
" If the cost of county government
is going to rise in an absolute
manner and increased revenues
must be found, I would support
a study into the feasibility of
several areas of taxation with
far less impact than the sales
tax. Officials might be forced
to explore a franchise tax or a
commercial rent and occupancy
tax to expand revenues in the
coming years. Based on the expanding
population and increasing
commercial earnings in the
county, these taxes could be used
to supplement the property tax
in paying for increased municipal
costs/'
" I feel confident that we can
soon begin some honest reforms
in the operation of government,
study all pos sible future tax needs
and remove the threat of a sales
tax for the 1,600,000 people of
Nassau County.''
Speno Bill Urges
Rebate To Commuters
A bill refunding money to Long
Island Railroad Commuters for
trips lost due to slow- downs and
strikes will be prefiled in Albany
by Senator Edward J. Speno
for action at the 1969 session of
the Legislature. Speno, Chairman
of the Joint Legislative Committee
on Mass Transportation
will introduce the bill which is
aim 3d at protecting the commutation
investment of the commuters
on the often troubled
New York State- owned line. Currently,
the loss of prepaid commutation
fares due to these reasons
is without recourse to the
line or the MTA, the state agency
that runs the line.
Upon passage, 260,000 passengers
a day would be affected
on the nation's busiest railroad.
Mechanics of the rebate would
direct the MTA to give the holder
of a monthly commutation ticket
a full rebate for the period of
time that a slowdown or cancellation
results and where there
is more than 10 percent stoppage
or failure to meet schedules on
any day. With about 665 scheduled
trains a day, 67 of these
would have to be involved to affect
the passenger refund.
Speno said, " This legislation
is intended to guarantee the commuter
a full dollar's value on his
investment. The law creating the
Mr A as the governing agency has
in effect removed the Public
Service Com mission as the monitor
of service and fare. The commuter
can only look to the legislator
for help when in fact he
should have an independent
forum. At the next session,
thought will be given by the Joint
Legislative Committee on Mass
Transportation to the establishment
of such an independent
forum outside of the MTA and to
which the commuter can appeal.
The committee will also undertake
a complete review of the
MTA and to which the commuter
can appeal. The committee will
also undertake a complete review
of the MTA from this point of
view. There is no reason for the
commuter as an innocent victim
to be penalized in addition to his
daily schedule by being forced to
pay full fare for a train that
neither starts nor goes.
Oh, to be young and in New York,
and have reserve money in the bank.
Privilege Checking comes with $ r>,()() 0) for when you need it. For
reserve money in the bank.
Now you can trade in your everyday
cheeking account. Privilege
Checking does the job better. It's
a workaday checking account
that lets you pay your regular hills
and keeps a comfortable cushion
of cash in reserve ( from $ 500 to
unexpected things.
Like medical bills. Bargains.
To use the reserve cash in your
Chemical
New York
CHEMKAI HANK NIW YOKK TRUS1 COMPANY
account just write one of your own
checks. Leave your savings intact.
Pay us as you would any loan. Interest
is 1% per month. And, if
you never use it, you never pay.
Get Privilege Checking.
For an application, call
212- 422- 6662. M,..*,. r. o. i. c.
Young New York. When their needs are financial, their reaction is Chemical.
MASSAPEQUA - 995 Hicksville Rd, f Richard |_. Martin, Mgr « BELLMORE - 2680 Merrick Rdc, Frank F o l i t t i , Mar.
Farmingdale OBSERVER, Thursday, September 26, 1968 Page 7
