In December 2020, a Plainview couple mailed the first half of their school tax payment to the Town of Oyster Bay, six days before its due date. The town received the check over five years later.
The Town of Oyster Bay issued a full refund, including close to $400 in late fees, to Valerie and James Stagnari after the check was received just three days before the end of 2025.
Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino said returning the money was the right thing to do and that the board is focused on serving its residents.
The town charged a late fee, as mandated by state law, for $395.19, after the check for close to $10,000 was not received in February 2021.
“I guess they were cleaning up the post office and found some stuff that fell behind some desks or something,” Jeffrey Pravato, the town’s receiver of taxes, said during a Feb. 24 town board meeting when the board approved the refund.
Town officials said the payment was postmarked in December 2020, yet the town didn’t receive it until Dec. 29, 2025. Officials said they honored the postage when deciding whether to give the refund.
“Not only does the tax receiver’s office taketh, it giveth back,” Pravato said.
Efforts to solicit additional comment from the Stagnaris were unavailing.
Pravato’s office, which is responsible for collecting property tax payments across the town, said it was made aware of 20 checks stolen out of the mail and cashed by a scammer in 2025, and that federal postal detectives were notified and investigated the scams.
His office suggests that people pay online to avoid postal office issues and scammers. It costs residents 78 cents for a stamp or $1.75 to pay online.
At the Feb. 24 meeting, the town board also authorized a $57.23 refund to another Plainview resident after their mail, originally dated August 2025, was just received by the town in January.
