Village News

East Rockaway village approves $9.45M budget

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The East Rockaway Village Board voted to approve next year’s proposed $9.45 million budget on April 25, which will add approximately $90 to the average annual property tax bill.

The primary reason for the 2.99 increase in the tax levy is a result of increasing costs outside the village’s control, Village Clerk Patricia Renner said, particularly due to the national economy.

Renner noted that the village administration lowered taxes three out of the past five years, and was able to stay under the tax levy cap last year. This year, piercing the cap was unavoidable, she said, as the village experienced a 7 percent increase in health insurance costs and a 2 percent increase in liability and property insurance. Renner also added that the village is projecting a 63 percent increase in revenue through building permits in the coming year.

Mayor Bruno Romano addressed the board at the meeting and stressed that the budget increases were kept as low as possible.

“The 2.99 percent increase is a direct result of the current national economy and increasing costs which are not within the village’s control,” Romano said. “Additionally, previously funded projects through grant money has been eliminated. The village board must continue to provide our residents with top notch services, and most importantly to continue to improve our infrastructure, which includes our roads. The board has been extremely frugal in spending and spent many hours going through the budget line by line to cut spending wherever possible.”