By ARIELLA MONTI
The committee of 15 reviewed the first draft of the Rockville Centre village budget for fiscal year 2010 and worked closely with Comptroller Michael Schussheim to increase revenue for the village and ease the tax burden on residents.
"The committee was concerned with making decisions that are achievable - that have an impact for this year, rather than just thinking [about] long term recommendations," said committee chairman Jim Fagan. Among other suggestions, the committee told the village to stick with a current hiring policy that achieves a five percent reduction in its workforce. According to Schussheim, the village has implemented a hiring freeze and will eliminate eight positions, all of which are now vacant. "We're hoping that the departments that have these positions eliminated will be able to maintain services at the pervious years' levels," said Schussheim of the possible impact of the reductions. The departments, which include senior services, sanitation, treasury and recreation, will be monitored to ensure that productivity does not decline.
Fagan also said that looking into new contracts with different vendors could also provide significant savings. The recently-negotiated sanitation contract saved the village $341,000 and the committee suggested the village continue renegotiating contracts for additional savings.
Mainly due to a reduction in revenue, the first draft of the proposed 2010 village budget has an increase of slightly over 6 percent, $920,000 more than the current spending plan of $34.8 million, and would amount to an increase of $158 per year for the average village homeowner. Rockville Centre has lost most if its revenue from the decline in mortgage recording taxes, building fee permits and the elimination of sales tax sharing by Nassau County. The budget and the committee's recommendations will be reviewed by the village board and the committee will meet again in about three weeks to review the next and possibly final draft of the budget. The village board must vote on the budget by May 1.
"I think the budget we're looking at right now is very, very lean," said Fagan. "But we're constantly looking for opportunities to cut costs and most importantly, for ways to increase revenue." Fagan added that he enjoyed working with the village and his fellow committee members and everyone is working hard to keep things manageable for village taxpayers. The continuation of the public hearing on the budget will be held on April 14 at 1 p.m.
Comments about this story? AMonti@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 282.
