No one likes to pay taxes. I think it’s fair to say that an antipathy towards taxes is universal. Certainly, we’ve heard a lot about the unfairness of the recent reassessment in Southampton. That misguided undertaking caused a lot of economic pain, and the many homeowners who were treated unfairly were justified in their complaints.
However, I’d like to focus for a minute, not on the unfair reassessment, but on the general tax rates on the East End, as compared to those in the surrounding areas. Over the years I’ve lived in Sag Hampton, I’ve heard lots of complaints about high taxes. In the late ’80s and early ’90s when I served on the local school board, that issue was the 800 lb. gorilla in the room at every school board meeting. More recently, I’ve read that high taxes were driving lower and middle income families out of the area. I’ve always nodded and agreed with those doing the complaining — ’cause, like I said, no one (including me) likes to pay taxes.
But, quietly, I’ve always wondered about this. My taxes, in fact, never seemed that high to me, especially compared with what I heard people were paying elsewhere on Long Island. But, I never voiced this opinion, thinking that maybe there was something I didn’t understand. I certainly didn’t want to advertise to others that I thought my property taxes were low. I thought it would seem arrogant, or something…
Then I read this in last Sunday’s New York Times. Oops, maybe I wasn’t crazy after all. And then I saw this, also in the same Times article. Wow! I’m not moving to Pelham, that’s for damn sure. It’s certainly a shock to see that taxes in the various communities that make up Sag Hampton are among the lowest in the New York metro area — and that’s across the board from Quogue to Montauk.
So, while there are many factors driving lower- and middle-class residents out out this area, it seems that taxes may not be one of them. OK, I know school district spending is out of control, and needs to be reigned in. But all that means is that we could be paying even lower taxes. So, what am I missing? If you think I’m wrong about this, leave a comment and let me know where I’m going wrong. Or, if you are one of the few who doesn’t mind paying your tax bill, I’d like to hear from you too.
