Elections

Like many Long Island communities, residents of Lynbrook enjoy the cultural benefits of living in a New York City suburb. As village residents, however, they also expect their local municipal government provide them with essential services.
Cathy Scheiner, a 22-year resident of Lynbrook, said she was disturbed by her overall tax bill, and any reduction in the cost of living would be beneficial. "My annual taxes are more than what my parents paid for their first house," she said.
Ann Marie Rudolph, who has lived on Central Avenue in North Lynbrook for five years, said she, too, would like to see taxes reduced since her taxes have been raised three out of the last four years.
Village officials report that the average homeowner pays $3,000 in village taxes, and that tax revenue comprises 72 percent of the village's operating budget of $30.8 million. The formula for payment is calculated by the Lynbrook assessor's office and is based on the assessed value of residents' homes. The area's commercial district, which pays approximately $6.8 million, - or 28 percent of the operating budget, helps to keep this number proportionally lower than surrounding communities.
Residents' property tax bills are divided among the Village of Lynbrook, the Town of Hempstead, and the Lynbrook Public School District, with the village portion at approximately 25 percent, officials said. Lynbrook schools' comprise roughly 60 percent of residents' total tax bill, and the Town of Hempstead, another 15 percent. Of the village's expenses, more than two-thirds of the budget - approximately $21 million - goes to funding the Department of Public Works and the police department. The public works department includes sanitation pick-up and disposal as well as highway and road maintenance. Police funding covers salaries, new equipment and upkeep, officer training, and first-aid supplies.
Although Rudolph said she supports a tax reduction, she added that continued road work, particularly along the side streets, was essential.
Smaller portions of the village budget include $1.9 million for library expenses and $2 million goes to funds the fire department. Another 5.2 percent - or $1.5 million covers the Recreation and Pool Department.
The trustees and mayor, who make $16,630 and $22,100, respectively, are paid through the Legal and Legislative Department and their salaries account for 2.1 percent of the budget.
Alan Beach
New Vision Party
trustee candidate
I would like to see us reach out to the best and brightest residents and form a finance committee, and let them review the budget line by line. We can also find out where there is waste that the taxpayers shouldn't be paying for. They are suffering for it.
Rob Boccio
Independent Party
mayoral candidate
Fortunately at this point, it appears that the village will be able to have another year of a zero percent tax increase. Looking forward, we will need to focus on the development of a comprehensive village marketing program that attracts appropriate business to widen the tax base, as well as to focus on sophisticated management techniques such as process improvment, performance management, and bench marking, to maximize the efficiency of village services.
Brian Curran
New Vision Party
mayoral candidate
I want to deal with specific areas that appear year after year. For example, the village pool. This year, the budget ran over. For the last five years, village government accepted the deficit without addressing it. Also, we will form a special budget committee when we get into office to overview the entire budget for special areas of spending which are wastful...we want to increase commercial tax base in a sensible manner to keep the character of the village. I also want to provide tax relief to seniors.
Mike Hawxhurst
Independent Party
trustee candidate
Through my work on budget commiteee, I can guarantee that I will push as hard as I can for another zero percent tax increase this year. We need to be more agressive in finding new resources. We need to be more efficient in tracking issues in the village - get a count of complaint calls coming in, and assign resources. We need to focus our resources in certain areas to plan and budget efficiently.
Bill Hendrick
New Vision Party
trustee candidate
All state, county, and village taxes are much too high. This is a village of working class families. We have to have better management and reduce the bloat of government. We have to maintain the vital services and get roads repaired.
Maryanne Hoesel
Independent Party
trustee candidate
We have to watch the spending of the village government with a critical eye for efficiency, and get the most for every dollar. We have the finance committee, but ultimately its the responsiblity of the board to make sure we don't spend one penny more than is necessary. For the future, every department can give the board a five-year capital expenditure plan.
Cecil Maloney
Reform Party
trustee candidate
One of things I would like to see us do - and what we have been fighing for - is to have more grants written. For example, and among many other things, the leaf collection equipment needs repair, we need a payloader. I want grants for these things, instead of taxing our people.
Chris Monzert
Reform Party
trustee candidate
One of the ways to save is through grants. We can improve the quality of life, and at no cost to the village. One example, is to get trees to plant in the village. We can get a grant to clean streets, and equipment to clean streets.
Dave Penso
Reform Party
mayoral candidate
I would like to reduce expenditure to a more realistic and accurate dollar amount. If we have a 9 million dollar surplus on a 30 million dollar budget, clearly this village, for many years, has been overtaxing the residents and businesses to the tune of millions of dollars. If elected, I would expect the board to be updated monthy ont the current status of the budgets expenditures and revenues, and then report this to the community monthly.
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