The Hicksville Water District announced this week that it is joining the Long Island Water Conference in formally opposing Nassau County's campaign to consolidate water districts. The plan, first proposed earlier this year by Nassau County officials, would force all water districts to be reorganized in to an expansive authority under the jurisdiction of the county.

Under this proposed plan, local water districts would be unable to provide services that are unique to each individual district.

"The sole purpose of the Hicksville Water District is to represent the needs and concerns of the residents of Hicksville," said Commissioner Richard A. Humann. "If Nassau County enforces their own guidelines and appoints their own leaders, then local residents will have no control or say in the quality of their water. Local control is essential in order to meet the needs of our community."

Under the current system, individual communities vote independently to decide the future of their water supply. The process is not left in the hands of local officials who may have other impending priorities.

Across Long Island, water district services account for a fraction of homeowner's annual property taxes, often accounting for less than two percent of the total bill, while school taxes often amount for as much as 25 to 30 times that amount. Additionally, schools receive a substantial amount of funding from the state. Water districts receive no such funding.

County officials have argued that consolidation would result in lower taxes without diminishing the water district services. This is not necessarily the case, however, as the county would be responsible for dictating the hours of operation, level of service, equipment purchased and staffing.

"The Hicksville Water District offers a cost-effective and valuable service to every community resident," added Humann. "As a local entity, the Hicksville Water District will continue to provide its local constituents with the services you have come to expect and continue to meet your needs and requests. Our community members are our top priority."

For more information on the Hicksville Water District and the services it provides call 931-0184 or visit www.hicksvillewater.org.

On Oct. 18, the commissioners of the Hicksville Water District met with about 50 members of the community. The commissioners accepted a meeting invitation from the Citizens for an Informed Hicksville (CIH) to address the scope, results and the district's action of the recent audit performed by the Nassau County Comptroller's Office.

The district was welcomed by the organizers and the commissioners immediately ensured those present by reiterating that first and foremost, the audit found no evidence of violations of laws or regulations, nor did it uncover fraud or abuse of taxpayer funds. The commissioners mentioned that when residents read this report they found that it was full of recommendations based on auditor opinions for best practices.

The report did not find non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Additionally, the commissioners noted that the district considers the audit process as a learning experience which should have provided the district with an independent, fair and objective appraisal of the effectiveness of financial systems and operational performance in accordance with applicable laws and financial controls, which it did not. The board of commissioners has provided for internal and external auditing of district finances for many years.

It appeared throughout the evening that the audience continues to support the district commissioners and has the confidence in them to run and operate the water supply in the community. The CIH was asked by the audience at the meeting to send a letter to the local papers and the county supporting the district and its commissioners.

The meeting organizers provided questions from the audience and the questions were addressed by Commissioners Richard Humann, chairman, and fellow Commissioners Nick Brigandi and Karl Schweitzer.

In the commissioner'' opening comments they stated that even though the audit started in March 2006 and was completed by June of the same year, it took over 14 months for the comptroller's office to release the draft findings to the district. It was explained that the district provided responses to the several revisions of the audit presented by the comptroller's office, but only minor changes were made despite the objection of the commissioners.

During the meeting there were several questions related to the audit and additional questions surrounding consolidation and a single voting day. The commissioners explained that although 90 percent of the findings had been corrected prior to the final audit being released, additional findings that the district differed on are now being considered for adoption by the district.

During the conclusion, the board addressed those present that they will continue to work with its internal staff to improve financial procedures and practices based upon the recommendations of the auditors and that every local government should seek to continuously improve and the board is working on those improvements.

The commissioners want their consumers to be confident in their ability to manage the entire district operation. They welcomed the entire audit process and have applied the county logic to its daily operations to assist in the management of one of the largest districts in Nassau County. Additionally, the commissioners, as they have always been, will continue to attend many civic meetings to answer any additional questions that may arise.

A complete list of the questions and the district's answers are available online at www.hicksvillewater.org.