February 16, 2010

 

Long Island Comptrollers, Maragos and Sawicki, Meet to Discuss

Tax Assessments, Counties Taxes and Mutual Cooperation

 

Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos and Suffolk County Comptroller Joseph Sawicki, Jr. had a lunch meeting to get acquainted and to compare how each county handles tax assessments, audits, and other cost saving initiatives that will benefit taxpayers.

The meeting, which took place at the Milleridge Inn in Jericho, was mutually beneficial. The tax assessment systems of both counties were of special interest to Comptroller Maragos and were discussed at length. Maragos estimates Nassau County will have to pay up to $120 million in refunds for 2010. Suffolk County does not have a comparable problem. Also discussed were the respective approaches to field audits and past findings with Social Service organizations.

"There is a lot of commonality between the two Counties and there is considerable knowledge that can be shared to better handle issues and operations and to avoid similar problems. Our first meeting was very informative.” Comptroller Maragos said. “We agreed to meet quarterly and continue to share information and cooperate in areas beneficial to both Counties.”

Suffolk County Comptroller Sawicki agreed, “The financial aspects of both our Counties are similar in many ways. We can learn a lot from each other by sharing ideas and through an ongoing dialogue of auditing and how best to safeguard our taxpayers’ money.”