Politics & Government
Lynbrook Village Tentative Budget Calls for Near 7 Percent Tax Increase
The $35,419,716 tentative budget calls for a more than $2 million increase over last year.
Village’s 2012-13 tentative budget stands at $35,419,716, an increase of 5.7 percent from last year, mostly due to a drop in revenue by 5 percent and a rise in pensions, health care and police retirement costs.
The budget calls for a village tax levy increase of 6.89 percent, the same amount as
Find out what's happening in Malverne-Lynbrookfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
According to the tentative budget, which is available on the village website, statewide premiums for employee and police pensions will cost the village an additional $172,274, compared to an increase of $547,000 last year. Health insurance costs show an increase of $239,600, and police retirement costs an increase of $144,274.
Police severance pay for five police officers is estimated to cost $720,000. There is no remaining reserve revenue to offset costs, threfore it must be paid by the general fund. Police expenses make up 44.1 percent of the budget.
Find out what's happening in Malverne-Lynbrookfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Lynbrook has until May 1 to approve a budget. Mayor William Hendrick told Patch that decreases to the budget and the overall tax increase will be made before then.
“It’s only a tentative budget, it is not going to be adopted. It’s going to go down further…reducing every department and getting more for less,” Hendrick said. “I can’t tell you the number because we haven’t meant with the departments yet, we’re going to meet with every department.”
Village taxes make up 10 percent of resident’s tax levy, compared to the school tax, which makes up 55 percent, according to the document. Village taxes are used for services such as highway maintenance, building code enforcement, fire and police protection, parks and recreation, library and curbside garbage collection.
The Lynbrook Board of Trustees will hold a Monday, 6 p.m. at Village Hall. Hendrick said the meeting will be between the board and the fire department, and parts of the meeting are open to the public. Hendrick told Patch that the board is not adopting the budget at this meeting.
What do you think about the Village of Lynbrook's tentative budget? Tell us in the comments.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
