Local Seniors Weigh in on School Tax Debate

In some places senior citizens are often thought of as the cliché group that always votes against the school budget. But, in East Meadow, this segment seems to stand on both sides of the hotly debated issue.

With the May 17 school budget vote looming, many are wondering if the senior citizens – who stereotypically oppose the school tax levies because of financial constraints – will have an impact on the budget decision. Due to the fact that seniors don’t have a direct use for the district, such as currently educating their children, they are often a group more critical of any increases in property taxes.

The that will face the public’s vote calls for a 1.73 percent increase in the overall budget and a 1.62 percent hike on property taxes for district residents. This is the second year in a row that the district has kept the increases under the two percent mark.

“I am struggling with that,” said Elizabeth Zitzman, 71, of East Meadow, in regard to how property taxes are affecting those who don’t have children in the district any longer. “I feel that I am on a fixed income and I feel that the taxes are so high for people like myself – the senior citizens. We are really poor and are on fixed incomes – we find it very difficult.”

Zitzman, who has lived in East Meadow for over 40 years and sent three children through the district, also explained that compared to other districts, she believes that East Meadow’s proposed increase for this year is pretty good.

Sandy Friedman, 70, of East Meadow, who is a semi-retired speech language pathologist and has worked in the Great Neck Public Schools for about 30 years, thinks that it is a good thing to invest money in the schools “but the teachers are getting a little carried away with themselves.” To offset some of the budget difficulties, Friedman believes that class sizes could be increased a little bit to perhaps 25 students.

“I went to school in the New York City Public Schools and there were 38 children in a class – sometimes even 40,” said Friedman, who has lived in East Meadow for about 41 years. ‘I don’t think that it is above and beyond to have 25 students.”

“I think it is ok for us, but I am not happy about the way things are going with the administration,” she added.

According to the proposed 2011–2012 district budget, the class sizes district-wide will be "maintained within district guidelines.” The Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance will face a $12,418 cut in their budget, while the Chief School Administrator will see an increase in $13,063 for that budget line item.

Others believe that the district could be utilizing the money they have in a more efficient manner.

“We don’t have anybody in school, but I know we have a good school district,” said East Meadow resident Carol Reilly, 55, who owns a dance school in Albertson. “I feel that a slight increase is ok, but they shouldn’t keep going with it. I just don’t want it to get too high because we are taxed on everything we do. We are the highest sales taxes and everything else.”

Expressing a common sentiment from many from the older generation, Zitzman said that she is afraid that the ever-increasing property taxes might eventually force her to move elsewhere.

“I am fearful of that – absolutely,” she continued. “The administration gets an enormous amount of the salaries – they are way out of whack as far as their salaries are concerned.”

Local seniors and those over the age of 55 without any children in the schools expressed unhappiness with the amount of school taxes, but the majority agreed that they would not be forced out just because of that factor.

“It is not going to push me out of my home, but it is going to have young people not want to live here anymore,” said Mark Brier, 64, who is an accountant, notary public and comedian and has resided in East Meadow for 13 years. “I think the school taxes should go up every year to have the best teachers. That keeps the value of your house up. I want to pay more taxes every year.”

Reilly said that she is aware of all of the increases, but doesn’t feel that it is going to force her out of her home because of the inability to afford the taxes. She added that she would consider living elsewhere because the overall cost of living would be less.

Friedman is not overly concerned with the taxes impacting her once she is fully retired.

“I am not prepared to leave just because of the taxes,” she said. “Those who are going to stay are going. Those who wanted to leave already left."