For the first time, voting for both the Hicksville School District budget and the Hicksville Public Library budget, as well as election of board of education and library trustees, will take place on Tuesday, May 20. For 2008-2009, the Hicksville Public Library has proposed a 5.77 percent budget-to-budget increase for a spending plan of $4,339,000 or $82,500 over the 2007-2008 adopted budget of 4,421,500. Despite the increase, library officials state the cost to homeowners will actually decrease by $4.43 or 0.5 percent as a result of past savings being applied to the proposed budget. Based on a current library tax rate of 19.8670, it is anticipated that the average homeowner will pay approximately $198.67 a year in library taxes.

One seat on the Hicksville Library Board is up for grabs this year. Carlos Munovospina and Harry Single, who was appointed in February to fill the seat vacated by retiring trustee Anthony Previte, are seeking election to the five-year term.

Information on the two candidates is as follows:

Carlos Munovospina, a resident of Hicksville for 12 years, has been employed with the Jericho Public Library for as many years and currently serves as a technology computer aid. Additionally, he has been a volunteer firefighter for the past three years. The candidates describes himself as a "family man" who is "very civic minded and takes great pride in the community."

If elected, Munovospina said it is his intention to "fairly represent the people of the town." He said, "I believe that my experience working for a library for so many years will work to the advantage of the Hicksville Library. It will be my privilege to serve on the library board."

A resident of Hicksville since 1976, Harry Single is a retired federal agent with the U.S. Justice Department and owner of the Hicksville-based business Uncle Harry's Trophies and Plaques. Single is a Hicksville Fire District Commissioner and current president of the Hicksville Boys and Girls Club and vice president of the Hicksville Community Council as well as a past director and president of the Midland Civic Association. He currently serves on the boards of the Hicksville Baseball Association, Hicksville Football Association and Town of Oyster Bay Youth Board and is a member of the Hicksville Chamber of Commerce's Scholarship Committee.

Single said he is the candidate of choice because he "loves the Hicksville community [and] has worked very hard to make it a better place for all of us." "As you can clearly see, I didn't come out of nowhere to run for this position. I have been dedicated to this community and with your help, I will continue to do so," said Single. "I have the support of the Hicksville Library Board and I look forward to working with them to make our library a place where all our residents can be proud of and comfortable with all the facilities."

Voting will take place Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and ballots for both the school district election and library elections will be included in the voting booths at the following locations: Burns Avenue (District #1), Dutch Lane (District #6), East Street (District #2), Fork Lane (District #5), Lee Avenue (District #4), Old Country Road (District #7) and Woodland School.

To be eligible to take part in either election, you must be 18 years of age or older, a United States citizen and reside in the district for more than 30 days prior to the vote.

Please note that the school district and library are two separate entities and that the consolidation of voting for the two entities represents a cost savings as well as convenience to residents.