The Village of Farmingdale is working on its budget for the 2002-2003 fiscal year. The board will officially adopt a budget on April 30.

Although an exact increase has not yet been determined, the village does know that there will be some increase in the budget, a direct result of the road repair and replacement bond issue, an $8.6 million bond issue to be paid back over 15 years. The bond issue includes the repairing and replacement of roads throughout the entire Village of Farmingdale.

Typically, 43 percent of a village budget is spent on public works, which includes equipment, street sweeping, leaf cleanup, road signage, street lighting maintenance, snow removal and parking lot maintenance; fire protection accounts for approximately 22 percent of a typical budget; code enforcement (equipment) and judicial accounts for approximately 9 percent; legislative is 10 percent, insurance is 3 percent and administration is 13 percent. These percentages are based on a 10-year average but do not necessarily denote the breakdown of the coming budget.

Some of the capital projects/equipment acquisitions included in next year's fiscal budget are 100 new curbside trees, new radios and miscellaneous equipment for the fire department and records preservation. Other projects and acquisitions the village will undertake in the next fiscal year will be funded under Bond Anticipation Notes (B.A.N.), a mini-bond of sorts that generally totals somewhere in the vicinity of $5 million, but will not be paid off during the upcoming fiscal year. The village will acquire the equipment or begin on the project, but repayment will not begin until the following fiscal year. Some of those acquisitions include an asphalt crack seal machine, wood chipper, parking meters, mechanic's truck and computer software. Highway bond projects that will take effect during the next fiscal year include the repairing and/or replacement of parking field #3, Lenox Road Main, Thomas Powell Blvd Main and Secatogue Avenue Main.

Approximately 15 percent of residents' overall taxes goes to the village, the remaining 85 percent includes schools, town and county taxes. This is the first year village taxpayers will begin paying off the highway bond issue. The village board held a public hearing on April 15 to allow the public to comment or ask questions about the upcoming budget. No residents voiced any opinions or concerns at this hearing.