Letters to the Rockville Centre Herald April 7, 2011

Opposes police consolidation

To the Editor:

Having read the Heralds’ recent letters to the editor, I feel compelled to weigh in regarding consolidation of the Rockville Centre Police Department.

I have always been a staunch supporter of the department. I oppose any consolidation that impacts this excellent law-enforcement unit. In fact, it was my pleasure to have applied Community Revitalization funds to secure a 2009 Chevy Trailblazer marked police vehicle. It’s equipped with wheel load scales that enable village and county police officers to enforce state and federal laws governing commercial vehicles.

I completely agree with the letter “Keep our cops local” (Feb.17-23): the “Rockville Centre Police Department is one of the best things about the village, and one of the main reasons the quality of life here is as wonderful as it is.”

As your representative in the County Legislature, I continue to fight for sound financial policy that permits continuation of county services without burdening taxpayers. Also, please be assured that I am totally opposed to any consolidation of police protection in Rockville Centre.

Joe Scannell

Nassau County legislator

Baldwin

When it comes to taxes, get involved

To the Editor:

At the village budget hearing on March 29, Trustee David Krasula made some interesting comments about the Sandel Senior Center and the village board made significant cuts to the center’s budget in its proposed spending plan for next year. Even with those cuts, I wonder if it should be paying that much money.

The mayor and board members said that more than 67 percent of our taxes are for schools. The village tax increase will be in the ballpark of $20, and county taxes slightly more than $10. The story in last week’s Herald, “Preliminary school budget up $2.41%,” said we are looking at a $400 school tax increase next year without final numbers from Albany on aid.

I would only hope that the same group of 250 people who were at the village budget hearing will attend the school board public work session on April 12 in the administration building, and the April 27 meeting at the high school — the last day on which changes can be made to the proposed budget.