Tax Cap Is Hot Topic of HHH Legislative Brunch

The new tax cap legislation was the talk of the hour during the Half Hollow Hills PTA Council's Legislative Brunch on Thursday, in which town, county and state representatives are invited each year to discuss issues of public education.

Superintendent Kelly Fallon noted that discussion during the annual event typically revolves around cuts in state aid to schools. “This year is different,” she said. The tax cap legislation, which was passed over the summer, requires schools to keep its tax levy increase within 2 percent of the previous year’s budget. The new law is at the helm of a in the Half Hollow Hills school budget. 

While the district is facing multi-million dollar cuts, New York State is still requiring districts to pay for obligatory testing and pension plan increases.

“The issue of unfunded mandates clearly needs to be addressed,” Fallon said. "We ask our legislators to realize the true meaning of the tax cap."

State Assemblyman Andrew Raia reiterated the superintendent’s remarks.

“We all knew that the tax cap would be a problem. From day one, I said mandate relief first…We can’t tell you to do more with less and keep mandates on you,” he said. “Let your legislator know that we want mandate relief to stay. Don’t give it with one hand and then take it away with the other.” 

Suffolk County Legis. Steve Stern (D-Huntington) brought the discussion back to local issues, highlighting steps the county is taking to combat crime in Huntington Station. “If you hear something, know something, say something,” he said. He also highlighted the county’s work to increase safety on roads near High School East, where several have recently occurred .

Huntington Town Councilmembers Susan Berland, Mark Cuthbertson and Mark Mayoka also attended the event and invited the school leaders to come to them with issues that can be resolved on the town level.

The event is a rare opportunity for students, parents and school administrators to discuss community issues with representatives from all levels of government.

“We get to see how decisions affect our daily life,” High School East senior Joshua Shinbrot, who serves on the PTA legislative committee, said. “It gives me the confidence that my vote will actually count.”

Other state representatives were scheduled to appear, but cancelled in order to attend Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s press conference on the proposed state budget at Malloy College in Rockville Centre.