Lynbrook village officials adopt $43.3M budget

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The Lynbrook village board of trustees unanimously voted on April 15 to adopt a $43.3 million budget for 2019-20.

Mayor Alan Beach said officials were able to keep their word by producing a budget with no tax increases, and which is also below the state’s 2 percent tax levy cap.

“This budget includes services such as highway maintenance, building and code enforcement, fire and police protection, parks and recreation activities, library programs and curbside garbage collection,” Beach said.

Beach also lauded many of the accomplishments the board has been able to facilitate in the village over the past year, as well as some of the accolades it received.

According to Beach, highlights included Lynbrook receiving the classification of no fiscal stress by the state comptroller, a rating as one of the top 10 safest communities in New York, and the receiving of an A-plus from the Press Club of Long Island for complying with local government transparency law.

Over the past year, officials also saw to the completion of more than $700,000 worth of beautification improvements near the Long Island Rail Road station and in other areas across the village, which were covered by grants. They also completed a $4 million road improvement program using low-interest bonds, began the process of starting the Greis Park Master Plan to improve and modernize the park and created a committee to keep residents informed about upcoming projects. In addition, several curbside trees were planted in residential and commercial areas.

Village Clerk John Giordano noted that it was the third straight year that the budget was within the state’s tax cap, and added that the village’s tax base has remained consistent from last year.

“That’s better than having it decline, but it’s always desirable to have a growth in your tax base,” Giordano said.

According to Giordano, 17 percent of the village’s properties are tax-exempt because they are either owned by school districts, the state, the county or the LIRR. He added that the village is only at 14 percent of its debt limitation, which is a cap set by the state, and is only at 61 percent of its tax limit.