Bloomberg Cites Tax Foundation Property Tax Data

 "New York Islanders' $400 Million Plan for Arena Bonds Is Spurned by Voters"

By Esmé E. Deprez

The New York Islanders, whose games draw the fewest spectators in the National Hockey League, failed to persuade voters to issue $400 million in general-obligation debt to boost attendance with a new arena.

The proposal to replace the 39-year-old Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, Long Island, was defeated 57 percent to 43 percent, the Nassau County Board of Elections said. William Biamonte, the board's Democratic commissioner, said turnout was "low" at about 17 percent of 900,000 registered voters.

Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano said he isn't giving up. He'll hold a news conference today to solicit proposals to redevelop the Coliseum site.

...

Tax Burden

Diane Yatauro, the leader of the county Legislature's Democratic minority, said it wasn't a "shock" that residents didn't approve a property-tax increase for themselves. Nassau's median property tax of $8,206 is the second-highest among U.S. counties, according to the Tax Foundation in Washington, behind only Hunterdon County, New Jersey.

"I urge Mr. Mangano to do what he should have done in the first place, give us a privately funded development plan with clear details as to how it protects taxpayers while stimulating economic growth," Yatauro said in an e-mailed statement.

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