In light of Farmingdale's statewide recognition for administering effective and innovative government services while maintaining a no tax increase record for 10 consecutive years, this article is one of a continuing series highlighting a particular aspect of your village's financial condition. Part I listed 10 years of actual expenditures to illustrate how spending has remained fairly level each year. Part II discussed the village reaching only 5.2 percent of its debt limit as set by the state comptroller. Part III told of how the village has been able to maintain its position of reaching only 25 percent of its New York State Constitutional Taxing Limit. This article discusses other means to collect revenue.

In a continuing effort to provide essential public services, the village became a member of the Nassau County Community Development Consortium. The municipal members of this consortium receive funding from the Federation Department of Housing and Urban Development through the County of Nassau.

Over the years, the village has obtained and applied this money to the renovation of approximately 212 single-family homes for moderate income residents, as well as financing various public improvement projects. Financing these projects through these federal funds, with the help of our County Representatives, Thomas Gulotta and Salvatore Pontillo, lessens the need to rely on local taxpayer dollars.

Over these last 10 years, for example, over $1.5 million has been obtained from this program for the improvements to our infrastructure. Water wells, new curbing and recent streetscape improvements to Main Street were all made possible. Without these funds, village taxes would have been 75 percent higher than they are now, and we would no longer be in the bottom quartile of a group of the lowest taxed villages in New York State.

For 1999, an application was authorized by Mayor Trudden and the Board of Trustees to obtain $150,000. If approved, these funds will enable the village to continue its efforts to undertake curb and highway improvements throughout the village. The village board is committed to maintaining low real estate taxes as one of many features that continue to make Farmingdale a desirable place to live.