Many homeowners in Nassau may be wondering why they're getting bigger tax bills than they expected.

A record number of Nassau residents are protesting their property tax assessments. The state Department of Taxation says the more people who file grievances and win tax refunds, the more those who don't file grievances have to pay.

Democratic county executive candidate Tom Suozzi calls that the "hidden tax," and he blames it on incumbent County Executive Ed Mangano.

Mangano says he can't control school taxes and that his record speaks for itself.

Mangano and Suozzi agree that the tax assessment system in Nassau County needs changing because homeowners are bearing more and more of the financial burden each year.

Mangano says there are more tax grievances this year because of Superstorm Sandy and because the protest deadline was extended for two additional months.