The annual budget for the Village of Flower Hill's 1999-2000 fiscal year was reviewed and unanimously approved by the board of trustees at this month's meeting. The biggest news from the budget is the rise in the tax rate for the upcoming year. Village residents will see an increase in their bill from last year's $4.20 per $100 of assessed value to $5 per $100.

In his village letter (given by advance copy to the Press), Mayor Jim Damascus explains the increase, "For the last several years residents complained that much of the 22 miles of road we own were in poor shape. After surveying the roads the engineers and we came up with a plan to do major road construction with improvements (that will) last for the next 20 years. Many of the worst roads have been repaired and corrected. Other roads are just about to begin. One of our biggest and most expensive roads/drainage projects in and around Maple Drive will finally stop the roads from buckling due to rainwater under the roadbed. This project alone is approximately $350,000. The work is not over yet and funds need to be increased, which is why we have raised village taxes this year."

As previously reported, when the village approved the three year plan to upgrade the roads within the village, it was estimated that the cost to the village could be more than $2 million. Mayor Damascus confirmed this in his letter, noting "This project -- between the current fiscal year and the next two fiscal years -- will be in excess of $2 million. Our annual budget without roadwork is approximately $1.8 million." In another section of his letter, he did a little review of past tax history, "Back in 1995, the residents were assessed $4.30 per $100. In 1994 this was increased 24 percent to $5.45 due to the major addition to the village hall. Since 1995 previous administrations lowered taxes to $4.70 and then to $4.23. Now the demand for road work mandated an increase of taxes to this level."

* In the public hearing held on March 10, the board approved Local Law #1, of 1999, "By adding a new section 86-25.2 establishing a moratorium on certain residential construction within the village." Although this is in addition to the moratorium already in force, the board will review the entire moratorium and consider a possible extension at the May meeting. Several building permits were deferred at this month's meeting, and the board went into executive session to review the moratorium and its application to the permits now before the committee.

* The mayor encouraged all interested residents to attend what he termed "the first of several public meetings we will hold on this matter" -- the renewal of the Cablevision franchise. The meeting will be hosted by the Great Neck/North Shore Cable Commission and will take place on April 29, 7:30 p.m. at Manhasset High School.

* After visiting and reviewing several intersections within the village, Trustee Tab Hauser submitted pictures of those sites to the board for further action. The research was done in an effort to determine if improper plantings and sight obstructions were present at the intersections. The packet is being forwarded to the building inspector for review.

* The GMC site was again a topic of discussion as the trustees reviewed a letter from the building inspector regarding possible violations on the property, including flood light and insufficient light shielding, and plantings that are dead or dying. The village is sending out a notice of violations to the owners.

* The mayor advised the residents that they will be receiving a copy of their tax bill information, and to please note "that it is for review only." He asked that if the information is incorrect on the form, to please notify the village hall. Actual bills will be sent out in May.

* Judge Francis J. Hone swore in the newly re-elected trustees, Tab Hauser, Harry Mulry and Charles Weiss.

* Appointments for terms of office until April, 2004: Arthur Zahradnik, the planning board; Elida Nellis, the Zoning Board of Appeals; Ann Nawojchik, the Landmarks Commission.

* Appointments for terms of office until April, 2000: Victoria Brewster, the Landmarks Commission; Susanne Kreischer, clerk to the Village Court Justice; James Gilhooly, the building inspector; Dr. Milton Parker, James Damascus, Leslie Taggard and James Gilhooly, as compliance officers. Judge Hone was reappointed as acting village justice.