Residents cite appraisal errors, data‑center concerns and affordability risks at tax hearing

Multiple residents raised concerns beyond the headline tax debate, telling commissioners that appraisal problems, the prospect of large data centers and housing affordability compound the burden of a tax increase.

Skip Dur, an Elmont resident, said he fights his property appraisal every year and argued that some valuations do not reflect local market reality. Debbie Anderson raised questions about proposed data centers and their water use and urged deferral of expensive new facilities. Darlene Nobles described a house that doubled in assessed value while household income did not keep pace and warned that seniors and middle‑income families could be forced to downsize.

Speakers tied those local issues to the tax debate, saying increases compound existing affordability pressures and asking commissioners to seek targeted relief for seniors and long‑time residents rather than approve broad rate hikes.