The Hicksville Water District will be presenting the Town of Oyster Bay their budget for 2007. It totals $8,355,598, just slightly higher than the 2006 budget. With this budget, the board of commissioners was pleased to announce the ability to maintain the current water rates for the third consecutive year. This has been accomplished by the implementation of a number of capital improvements contributing to increased efficiencies, particularly in the reduction of energy usage through full implementation of the district's SCADA system and communication incentives along with an increase in water sales due to a very dry summer in 2005.

"The board of commissioners is particularly pleased to hold the line on our budget, taxes and rate structure within the current environment," said Hicksville Water District Chairman Karl M. Schweitzer.

Thanks to a policy of conservative budgeting combined with these new initiatives of planned revenues, the Hicksville Water District ended its 2006 fiscal year with a surplus as Schweitzer signed the district's 2007 budget.

The board continues its policy of conservative budgeting and aggressive cost cutting that along with their planned revenue streams, make the district fiscally responsible to their consumers. The district, however, wisely elected to apply the surplus to reduce anticipated budget deficits and to invest in capital investments towards infrastructure improvements. Every dollar collected from our consumers goes directly back into managing the district. In essence, tax-dollars stay right where they belong in Hicksville, said Schweitzer.

Despite Hicksville's current fiscal health, Schweitzer warned against complacency. "Although we have come a long way to achieve the current surplus, our fiscal health is simply not sustainable unless we act aggressively to curb major issues still facing the district: in particular, the continuous increase in energy, fuel and local governmental health mandates each year." Schweitzer repeated his call for local control over a county-run authority, which would not benefit our consumers in Hicksville.

Citing additional factors, of rising pension contributions for employees and the soaring cost of health insurance benefits, Schweitzer warns against future increases, if not addressed by a cooperative effort between local and state officials.