Although State Senator Kemp Hannon recently announced that Farmingdale is among some Nassau County villages that will benefit from an increase in state aid, Farmingdale village administration has noted that the municipality is still not receiving nearly what it was 10 years ago from the state.

In a released statement, Hannon noted that the aid contained in the state's 1998-99 budget contains a 2 percent increase in revenue sharing aid for cities, towns, and villages. In addition to Farmingdale, Nassau County villages slated for the extra infusion are Garden City and Hempstead. "This additional aid will help relieve pressure on local property taxes, and enable municipalities to provide services which are important to maintaining the quality of life in communities throughout the state," the senator said.

Farmingdale's state aid figure for the coming fiscal year is approximately $55,500, according to Hannon. This year, Farmingdale received approximately $52,000, according to Farmingdale Village Clerk-Treasurer John Giordano, who noted that state aid has not been restored to where it was in 1990. In that year, the figure was approximately $212,000. Every year since then it had dwindled, he noted, until the state began increasing it in small increments during the past couple of years.

Although Giordano compared this year's state aid to the past, larger amount, he also expressed gratitude for Hannon's efforts for the locality. "We're very pleased that Senator Hannon has fought for the village's interests in obtaining these monies," he said. "These monies are always welcomed." He also applauded the senator for a $15,000 grant he recently obtained for the village for the purchase of a new fire truck.

State aid comprises two and a half percent of the village's total revenues. The majority of the municipality's revenues (two-thirds) is garnered from real estate taxes, while the remainder comes from such miscellaneous sources as grants, license fees, justice court fines, a share of mortgage taxes (the village shares these monies with the county), and a share of utilities tax (which the village also shares with the county). Interestingly, the revenue from mortgage tax is currently actually larger than that from state aid, according to Giordano. The village's total budget, - that is total spending - is currently approximately $3.1 million.

Despite the difference between the 1990 and 1998 state aid figures, the village's property tax rate has not increased in 10 years. The use of grant money is most commonly cited by the village as a successful way to hold the line on taxes while maintaining services.

Also as part of the 2 percent increase in state revenue sharing announced by Hannon, the Town of Oyster Bay is slated to receive approximately $1.3 million in aid. Because Farmingdale Village is an independent municipality, it will not benefit from these funds, according to Giordano. However, unincorporated areas of Farmingdale within the Town of Oyster Bay - the western and southern parts of the community - will be affected.

Also after the state revenue sharing increase, the Village of Garden City will receive approximately $165,700 in aid. The Village of Hempstead will receive $476,800, plus $750,000 in special financial assistance to help recover from recent years' devastating losses in taxable assessments. In addition, Hannon noted that he anticipates the Village of Hempstead will receive a portion of the $146,000 he has secured for the Sixth Senatorial District in federal "Edward Byrne Funding," which provides localities with monies for anti-drug enforcement efforts.