(11/01/06) MINEOLA - Nassau County Tax Assessor Harvey Levinson is taking a political gamble by questioning a property tax exemption for clergy that he says strips local schools of millions in revenue.

Clergy living in private Nassau homes are given major breaks on their property taxes. Levinson says there are hundreds of clergy members paying no school taxes because of the large exemptions. He says these people live in very expensive homes and even quotes one clergy member's house as being worth $2.2 million. That cleric received more than $10,000 in tax savings.

Some residents believe it is a political risk to go after the clergy on this issue. They added they agree with the tax assessor, though, and believe the exemptions should be lowered.