In February 2016, the Towns of Hempstead and Oyster Bay, with the support of county officials, dissolved the Water Authority of Southeast Nassau County, which was reconstituted in 2010 to take over New York American Water (“NYAW”), the private corporation that has a monopoly over our most precious resource–our water.
The public takeover would have saved at least 50% off our water rates by eliminating NYAW’s profits and property tax payments. Nassau County levies property taxes on water utility property owned by NYAW, which taxes are fully passed onto ratepayers. Property taxes make up 40% of our bill. Nassau County and the Town of Hempstead get $12 million per year in taxes from our water bills, while 90% of Nassau residents with municipal water do not pay such taxes as their water district properties are tax exempt. Since our town and county officials refused to takeover NYAW and dissolved the public authority, we demand that they stop taxing us for water.
Updates
April 20, 2017
I am honestly overwhelmed by how many of you have joined this effort to challenge these water taxes. This movement has taken on a life of its own because you decided this was worth talking about. Truly, this is all down to the energy you have brought to the table.
Reached 100 supporters
April 20, 2017
48 Comments
We are stuck in a monopoly and our government is doing nothing to stop it. This is unacceptable. Public access to clean water should be an irrefutable right.
It's shameful that our representatives ignore their constituents who are already reeling under the burdens of higher costs for food, energy, healthcare and rising taxes. Instead they curry favor with a private monopolistic company that ought to be a public utility for the benefit of Nassau County residents. When will we get a break?
Please stop taxing the people of North Merrick who use water - a necessity that has become so expensive we've had to go without other things. We should have public water as our neighboring townships due.
Stop charging me double what the rest of Long Island pays! This should be a criminal offense! We are The laws to protect us?? Now we have to foot the bill for the water to? Wantsgh, Bellmore and Merrick are the ONLY TOWNS THAT HAVE THIS EXTRA PAYMENT. Stop this please!
Stop squeezing us, Mangano! My $13,000.00 in property tax, should be more than enough!
It's UNFAIR and UNJUST that SOME of us in the Town of Hempstead pay SO MUCH MORE for water than the rest. We ALL deserve public water. It's time to set things straight!
We pay enough already!
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In February 2016, the Towns of Hempstead and Oyster Bay, with the support of county officials, dissolved the Water Authority of Southeast Nassau County, which was reconstituted in 2010 to take over New York American Water (“NYAW”), the private corporation that has a monopoly over our most precious resource–our water.
The public takeover would have saved at least 50% off our water rates by eliminating NYAW’s profits and property tax payments. Nassau County levies property taxes on water utility property owned by NYAW, which taxes are fully passed onto ratepayers. Property taxes make up 40% of our bill. Nassau County and the Town of Hempstead get $12 million per year in taxes from our water bills, while 90% of Nassau residents with municipal water do not pay such taxes as their water district properties are tax exempt. Since our town and county officials refused to takeover NYAW and dissolved the public authority, we demand that they stop taxing us for water.
Updates
April 20, 2017
I am honestly overwhelmed by how many of you have joined this effort to challenge these water taxes. This movement has taken on a life of its own because you decided this was worth talking about. Truly, this is all down to the energy you have brought to the table.
Reached 100 supporters
April 20, 2017
48 Comments
When private companies run our utility companies they are taxed...then just pass those taxes onto consumers. How is this fair?
We are stuck in a monopoly and our government is doing nothing to stop it. This is unacceptable. Public access to clean water should be an irrefutable right.
It's shameful that our representatives ignore their constituents who are already reeling under the burdens of higher costs for food, energy, healthcare and rising taxes. Instead they curry favor with a private monopolistic company that ought to be a public utility for the benefit of Nassau County residents. When will we get a break?
Please stop taxing the people of North Merrick who use water - a necessity that has become so expensive we've had to go without other things. We should have public water as our neighboring townships due.
Stop charging me double what the rest of Long Island pays! This should be a criminal offense! We are The laws to protect us?? Now we have to foot the bill for the water to? Wantsgh, Bellmore and Merrick are the ONLY TOWNS THAT HAVE THIS EXTRA PAYMENT. Stop this please!
Stop squeezing us, Mangano! My $13,000.00 in property tax, should be more than enough!
It's UNFAIR and UNJUST that SOME of us in the Town of Hempstead pay SO MUCH MORE for water than the rest. We ALL deserve public water. It's time to set things straight!
We pay enough already!
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When private companies run our utility companies they are taxed...then just pass those taxes onto consumers. How is this fair?