After a series of open meetings regarding the village budget for the 2004-2005 fiscal year (June 1, 2004 to May 31, 2005), the Farmingdale Village Board of Trustees adopted its budget last Thursday, reflecting a 9.5 percent increase in the general tax fund rate and a 10 percent decrease in the water rate.

The total operating budget for both the general and water fund is $6,359,165. At a budget workshop held April 21, Village Clerk-Treasurer John Giordano explained that village taxes represent approximately 15 percent of all school, town and county property taxes and are used for essential services such as highway maintenance, building code enforcement and fire protection. Giordano further added that the water fund is supported by user fees.

"This budget attempts to continue the village's fine tradition of fiscal responsibility, and maintains its record of consistently providing efficient public service. Completion of the 2000 Decennial Census indicates the village population increased 4.7 percent to 8,399," Giordano said in his general fund budget message. "From 1989, up to and including 2000, the village maintained an unprecedented zero tax increase, while winning awards for capital planning and budgeting, and undertaking a successful Downtown Revitalization Program funded entirely by grants. In 2002, the village was awarded the prestigious 'Main Street Award' by the New York Conference of Mayors in recognition for its revitalization. Substantial tax rate increases from 2002-2004 were incurred to finance the cost of a village-wide highway improvement program."

Giordano added that while operating expenses in the new budget remain fairly level from the prior year, this year's tax rate increase of 9.5 percent was due to new fixed debt service payments to acquire the Division Street property from the Long Island Rail Road for parking expansion in 2003. This is the first year that taxpayers must make payment on that bond. In addition to regular budget items, which residents had the opportunity to go over line by line, the village board included a contingent account of $290,000 to support any unexpected expenses or revenue shortfalls.

At the April 29 meeting of the village board, the evening the budget was adopted, residents expressed concern over whether or not any services would be changed. Giordano explained that residents will continue to receive the perks that they are used to, including leaf collection and snow removal. Village Mayor George Graf explained that he is looking to work with the board, as well as the community, to find better ways to allocate services to residents, ultimately running the village like a business. He said that while the budget for the 2004-2005 fiscal year is similar to that of the prior year, he asked residents to come back in 10 to 12 months and see where money has been spent, promising that he and the board will be held accountable for their decisions.

"The days of doing things the way they've always been done are over," he said, adding that although the budget has been approved, he invites residents to continue to discuss items within the budget at future meetings. "Just because the books are closed, that doesn't mean we can't have discussions going forward. Feel free to bring up [budgetary issues] at future meetings."

The village budget was adopted one day before the state deadline. In addition to regular budgetary obligations, there was also $15,000 put aside for both the fire department and highway equipment, in a reserve fund, in addition to $10,000 in seed money for a possible community center being planned. Residents will see the decrease in their water rates starting with the fall billing cycle.