By BERNADETTE GIACOMAZZO
Despite the proposed tax increase of 9.95 percent, there was very little public outcry against the spending plan, and the next opportunity for the board to adopt the budget will be at its next scheduled meeting on April 28.
"If the board does not adopt a budget by May 1, the tentative budget submitted on March 20 will go into effect," said village spokesman Jeff Kluewer. He added that the tax increase was a function of village property values. Under the current budget, the average homeowner pays approximately $2,336 - $29.95 per $100 of "net assessed value." Under next year's proposed budget, the average homeowner would pay approximately $2,569 - $32.93 per $100 of net assessed value. The village portion of homeowners' taxes is approximately 20 percent.
The school district has not yet announced its tax increase. According to Mayor Mary Bossart, village revenues have fallen as the economy has faltered. The proposed budget, Bossart said, is the most conservative fiscal plan the village can adopt because projections, at least for the near future, do not show economic growth.
Citizens Budget Advisory Council co-chair Robert Pagnotta and former village Trustee Jeff Greenfield were among the most vocal of the budget dissenters at the meeting.
While Pagnotta called for the Board of Trustees to reconsider spending in all areas of the budget, Greenfield offered a sobering assessment. "If we're looking at a nearly double-digit increase now," he said, "what can we expect in five years?"
Trustees tried to assuage residents' concerns by emphasizing that some village services, such as police, require funding by citizens in order to maintain the quality of life to which they're accustomed. "My father used to tell me that there is no such thing as a free lunch," said Trustee Andrew Karamouzis. "If you want certain things, you have to pay for them."
Karamouzis, along with Bossart and Trustees Chuck Joyce and Dave Krasula, voted in favor of closing the budget hearing. Trustee Jeanne Mulry was the sole holdout in favor of continuing the hearing.
In a written statement that accompanied the budget proposal, village Comptroller Michael Schussheim noted the financial difficulties many residents are facing, but said that the tax increase was necessary to maintain services that keep Rockville Centre's property values high. "Economic hard times are a cyclical problem, and we all hope for a return to a more stable economic period in the near future," Schussheim said.
Comments about the story? BGiacomazzo@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000, ext. 240.
