East Farmingdale Tax News

Dear Homeowner,

We are pleased to share significant updates on the Town of Babylon’s ongoing efforts to address the unfair tax burden impacting residents in the Farmingdale school district. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of New York State Senator Monica Martinez and Assemblyman Kwani O'Pharrow, we have secured $1 million in funding in the recent state budget to help offset the excessive school taxes Babylon homeowners have faced due to the equalization rate disparity. The details of regarding this are currently being worked on by the State.  While this is a positive step, we are actively pushing for additional funding to further alleviate this burden.

Beyond budget advocacy, our legal team is advancing proposed legislation to New York State to prevent this issue from recurring. This proposal seeks reforms in how equalization rates are calculated for school districts spanning county lines, aiming to ensure fairer tax apportionments moving forward. The New York State Legislature is scheduled to resume sessions in January 2026, and we anticipate significant movement on this legislation at that time.

On the legal front, the Town of Babylon’s litigation against New York State and Nassau County is progressing. Our legal team is now in the discovery phase, a critical step we anticipated in this case. This process is vital, as we believe there was either a misrepresentation of data or a failure to share data appropriately between New York State and Nassau County. This lack or misuse of data allowed Nassau County’s equalization rate to remain flat while ours changed, a discrepancy that makes no sense and which we will continue to challenge vigorously.

Additionally, we have received the Farmingdale School Board resolution, which establishes the tax levy and the apportionment of taxes between Nassau County and the Town of Babylon. The apportioned tax base for Babylon residents has decreased, which is a step in the right direction, but we remain unsatisfied and are committed to pursuing further improvements. As expected, we are navigating the timeline of the New York State court system, and while this process is ongoing, we remain steadfast in our advocacy.

Although this issue stems from the school district, the Town of Babylon has taken it on to protect our residents from unfair tax splits and apportionments. We are fully committed to holding those responsible accountable and securing a fair resolution for all Babylon homeowners. 

Supervisor Rich Schaffer has taken the lead in fighting for the residents affected by this issue—ensuring the Town stepped up to fund and pursue this litigation on their behalf. Without this decisive action, homeowners would likely have been forced to organize and finance their own legal challenge. This effort demonstrates the Town’s continued commitment to stand up for our residents when others might have stepped aside.

For the latest information, please visit www.townofbabylonny.gov. If you have questions or need assistance, our office is here for you at (631) 957-3003.

Thank you for your continued patience and support as we fight for what’s right. Together, we’ll keep pushing forward.