The Problem


		The Gordon Heights Fire District should be dissolved
TOB Fire tax rates 2006 Petition Tale of 2 tax bills Rapidly Rising Budget GHFD Commissioner Meeting minutes	Thomas Jefferson	THOMAS JEFFERSON "I place economy among the first and most important virtues, and public debt as the greatest of dangers. To preserve our independence, we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. If we can prevent the Government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of caring for them, we will be happy."Click for phones & addresses of all LI elected officials What has happened to the USA? What is a Republic ... Must see Video
Where is GH? PIE Chart Population	Help US	The residents are trying to raise money to pay an attorney to help resolve our tax crisis. Contributions in any amount are greatly appreciated.. Please help us. Thank you for your support & donation
Tale of two houses PIE Chart Taxes 2007 Archives Comparables GH Fire Dept Sex Offenders Call summary, 2006 Impact, 2008 2008 TOB Speeches Residents DeCry Taxes NYS AUDIT 2008 News Articles 2009 News Articles GHFD Comm. mins. Tax woes continue RESD Voices from the Front Line Editorials One GHFD Truck	U N F A I R T A X E S	Unreasonable: Click to see video that explains all The Gordon Heights fire district taxpayers are paying a fire tax that is way out-of-line compared with the average fire district tax on Long Island. Unsustainable: Click to see video that explains all The average Fire District in the Town of Brookhaven is approximately 10 sq miles, has around 4,200 residential and approximately 130 commercial properties to comfortably support it. The Gordon Heights Fire District has an inadequate tax base of less than 2 sq miles, has approximately 900 families and not enough commercial property to absorb the high costs of running a fire district by today’s’ standards. Out of these approximately 900 homes in the district, there are number of properties that are tax exempt. Unnecessary: Click to see video that explains all Not everyone who lives in “Gordon Heights” pays their fire taxes to the Gordon Heights Fire District. Over 50% of the “Gordon Heights Community” residents are already part of the four larger surrounding fire districts servicing the residents at much lower fire tax rates. All of these other fire districts surround the Gordon Heights Fire District. Unjustified: Click to see video that explains all TheGordon Heights Fire District has a very low call volume. It averages out to about 1 call per day for Fire and EMS combined. Gordon Heights Fire District Petitions for Dissolution
EQUALS + + + +		Reasons why the Fire District should be dissolved. Recognize need for change 1. The Gordon Heights Fire District does not have “Economy of Scale” (tax base is too small). 2. There is not enough “available” land left for future development to offset the high fire tax rate. 3. There is an escalating financial responsibility imposed by NYS for unfunded mandates requiring fire districts to maintain a certain level of standards with respect to trucks, equipment, training, etc. 4. There are Four (4) excellent fire districts surrounding the territory, all of which are already servicing more than 50% of the Gordon Heights residents at much lower tax rates. 5. In actuality, the Gordon Heights Fire District was “carved out of land” which belonged to the other fire districts. This loss tax base for these departments seems unfair for the taxpayers in these other fire districts. 6. Here are three ways that may help reduce the fire tax rate to a reasonable level: 6 a. if the valuation of the tax paying property would increase by about 4.5 million dollars (that equates to a min. of 1500 brand new homes or approximately 400 commercial entities). In addition, the fire district budget could not be increased by one dime to service this new tax base. 6b. reduce the operating budget by more than 1 million dollars and not increase the budget ever again. 6 c. The Gordon Heights community is spread out among 4 hamlets with different zip codes. (Coram, Middle Island, Yaphank and Medford). The most “common sense” solution is to merge the handful of Gordon Heights residents paying into the GH fire District into the surrounding fire districts based on their mailing zip codes. It would seem that more could be gained for this community, if the Gordon Heights Fire District is dissolved and absorbed by surrounding districts. This could accomplish a few positive things : give the neighboring districts more tax base (and perhaps even lower their fire tax rates) and eliminate these unfair high fire taxes which are eroding the financial health of the Gordon Heights residents.
+ + +		Tax relief programs available through the Town of Brookhaven Star Program 631-451-9051 Enhanced Star, Vets over 65 631-45107 TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN ELECTED OFFICIALS The town of Brookhaven established the Gordon Heights fire district and they have the power to dissolve it. Supervisor's Office (D) Brian X Foley 631-451-6955 Steve Fiore-Rosenfeld Councilman (D) 631-451-6963 Jane Bonner Councilman (R) 631-451-6964 Kathleen Walsh Councilwoman (R) 631-451-6647 Connie Kepert Councilwoman (D) 631-451-6647 (GH Councilwoman) Timothy P. Mazzei Councilman (R) 631-451-6645 Keith Romaine Councilman (R) 631-451-6502 Pam Betheil, Town Clerk 631-451-9101 Assessor Jim Ryan 631-451-6300 Town of Brookhaven Legal Department. Karen M.Wilutis (R) 631-451-6500 www.brookhaven.org Town of Brookhaven 1 Independence Hill Farmingville, NY 11738

Tax relief programs available through the Town of Brookhaven

Star Program 631-451-9051

Enhanced Star, Vets over 65 631-45107

TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN ELECTED OFFICIALS

The town of Brookhaven established the Gordon Heights fire district and they have the power to dissolve it.

Supervisor's Office (D) Brian X Foley 631-451-6955

Steve Fiore-Rosenfeld Councilman (D) 631-451-6963

Jane Bonner Councilman (R) 631-451-6964

Kathleen Walsh Councilwoman (R) 631-451-6647

Connie Kepert Councilwoman (D) 631-451-6647 (GH Councilwoman)

Timothy P. Mazzei Councilman (R) 631-451-6645

Keith Romaine Councilman (R) 631-451-6502

Pam Betheil, Town Clerk 631-451-9101

Assessor Jim Ryan 631-451-6300

Town of Brookhaven Legal Department. Karen M.Wilutis (R) 631-451-6500

www.brookhaven.org

Town of Brookhaven

1 Independence Hill

Farmingville, NY 11738

Where is Gordon Heights, Tale of two houses, Reality, Town of Brookhaven Fire Tax Rates, The Petition, Rapidly Rising Budget, Status, 2007 Installation Dinner, Fire District, Population, Tale of 2 tax bills, PIE Chart, Taxes, Comparables, Gordon Heights Fire Department, Dissolution, Charts,Town of Brookhaven letter, Sex offenders, Sept 2007 Update