District 30 files lawsuit against LIPA

District 30 is joining a growing number of Long Island school districts filing suit against Nassau County and LIPA for reductions to the districts’ tax levies.

The board authorized the law firm Guercio & Guercio, of Farmingdale, to proceed with the litigation at its regular meeting on Monday. According to the districts, the county unfairly lowered their tax levies after they had been set by their boards of education and approved by their taxpayers.

The county recently pulled Long Island Power Authority-owned properties off of its tax rolls, allowing the power authority to make payments in lieu of taxes, commonly referred to as PILOTs, reducing the voter-approved tax levy in District 30 by $901,407.

LIPA is disputing this agreement, making it unclear at this point how much money the district will actually receive. If LIPA does not come forward with its PILOT payments, or if the PILOT payments do not equal LIPA’s previous tax obligation, the county contends it is not obliged to make up the shortfall — which is different for every district. Comparatively, in Oceanside, it was $2.2 million.

Lisa Rutkoske, assistant superintendent for business, said that it is unclear how or when school districts will be compensated, but the district is hopeful that the situation will be resolved.