(Rockville Centre, NY) Despite the financial pressures from maintaining the Villages extensive infrastructure, the Rockville Centre Board of Trustees has passed a budget for next fiscal year that stays within the tax cap for the second year in a row while maintaining all Village services. The budget of $42.7 million is an increase of less than $1 million and approximately 2% above the current fiscal year budget.
A portion of the increased tax rate which totals 4.44%, is related to the assessed valuation decline in the Village. The total assessed valuation dropped in the Village like every other Village in Nassau County, primarily due to successful commercial property challenges that continues unabated. Most fees will remain the same as in the current fiscal year.
“I believe this budget balances the need to hold down taxes and not impact the services that residents have come to expect and enjoy,” commented Mayor Francis X. Murray. “The Village has left no stone unturned when it comes to securing gifts and grants. In an effort to hold down taxes, the Village has secured nearly $6 million dollars in federal, state and local grants and gifts to make improvements within the Village in the past two and a half years.”
Funds secured through gifts and grants have been used for a variety of upgrades throughout the Village. Much of this money has been used to improve ball fields and parks, provide transportation and assistance for seniors, equipment to repair roadways, acquire state-of-the-art crime fighting tools for the police and fire departments and much more. Public/private partnerships have also been negotiated to be a mutually beneficial endeavor that will save taxpayer’s money, and reward residents for years to come. Most notably, the Village is sharing services with Molloy College to further improve the athletic facilities at Bob Klein Softball Field giving the college an NCAA-regulation softball field and provides the Village as well as the Rockville Centre School District with the cost-free use of the upgraded field.
“The spending plan we are putting forth is the product of a great deal of work by the Village, our Comptroller and our department heads to hold down costs wherever possible,” stated Deputy Mayor Nancy Howard. “We will continue to look for ways to reduce costs and bring in additional revenue to the Village.”
Residents can view the spending plan on the Villages web site, WWW.RVCNY.US.
