The Munsey Park Board of Trustees set its real property tax levy for 1999-2000 on Wednesday, May 12. Clerk-Treasurer Karen Navin stated that the tax rate for residential properties has been set at $5.646 per $100 of assessed valuation, a decrease of 13.08 percent from last year. The tax rate for utility properties, commercial properties and vacant lots have also decreased. The assessed value for the village is determined by the Nassau County Board of Assessment.

The decrease in the tax rate does not mean a reduction of services to the taxpayers. In fact, the village's board of trustees plans to implement several infrastructure improvements in the coming year, including resurfacing Park Avenue from the bend to Port Washington Boulevard and sidewalk replacement on a large portion of Manhasset Woods Road. These projects are funded by the Highway Repair Reserve.

The budget, as prepared by the mayor and board of trustees, contains anticipated revenues, excluding real property taxes, of $195,058. This is the amount the village anticipates receiving for permit fees, interest, justice fees, utility gross receipts, taxes and revenue sharing. Non-tax revenues have risen substantially from last year, reflecting a carry-over of CHIPS capital improvement revenue.

The budget includes appropriations in the amount of $1,131,239, a decrease from '98-'99 of $106,515. The appropriation amount is the amount the village expects to spend on equipment, supplies, contractual services, refuse collection and disposal, salaries and benefits. The decrease in appropriations reflects a change in policy; expensing capital improvements from the capital fund rather than the general fund.

As a result of the increase in revenue, decrease in expenditures and the continuation of the village's policy of appropriating surplus to reduce the amount to be raised by taxation, Munsey Park should see a decrease in the tax rate of 13.08 percent.

Taxes for the village are due and payable from June 1 through July 1, after which time a penalty will be applied. Tax bills should be received by the first week in June, according to Mrs. Navin.

At the May 12 Munsey Park Board of Trustees meeting there was further discussion regarding the sidewalk rehabilitation project on Hunt Lane bordering the Munsey Park Elementary School as well as on Manhasset Woods Road. The sidewalk, which is not made of conventional concrete but rather more temporary blacktop, is in disrepair due to everyday wear and tear and the impact of tree roots. The challenge has been how to replace the sidewalk without destroying any healthy trees. According to Mayor Harry Nicolaides, the village is extremely "sensitive about maintaining as many as possible, if not all, healthy trees along Hunt Lane." However, village arborist Richard Gibney has earmarked approximately 12 trees for removal largely because of their declining condition. Only three healthy Norway Maples have been tagged specifically because of the walkway placement.

One resident pleaded with the board to "save the trees" and asked that they take a look at the walkway around the Molloy/O'Connell field where they were confronted with a similar issue of trees and root structures and perhaps raise the elevation of the walkway as they did in that instance. As Mayor Nicolaides pointed out however, because of grading and other safety issues, raising the elevation is not an option in this case. Another resident and member of the Munsey Park Tree Committee asked when and why this project came to be. According to Mayor Nicolaides it was brought to the board's attention by the Munsey Park Elementary School and determined to be under village domain and therefore the village's responsibility for upkeep. In essence, the school put the village on notice that the walkway, which is used by school children, moms with baby carriages, and student athletes on the weekend to name a few, was a hazard and needed to be addressed.

In light of the threat the walkway poses, the board agreed at last month's meeting to approve the tree removal before they leafed out, pour the concrete before school begins in September, with replacement planting of flowering and shade trees, shrubs and ground cover to be done in the fall. Unfortunately, the tree removal bids took longer than expected and therefore the optimum tree removal time has come and gone. On the other hand, this gives the board an opportunity to revisit the project with an eye, as one resident put it, toward "minimizing the demise of the trees."

On other matters, the board approved a request to hold the Munsey Park Association Picnic at Copley Pond on Sunday, June 27 between noon and 4 p.m. This popular event will be held in conjunction with the village's Arbor Day Ceremony and all residents are encouraged to stop by and "have a hot dog."

Finally, the board also approved a request from a resident to use village streets for a charity road race Saturday, Nov. 27 to benefit the Polycystic Kidney Foundation with Munsey Park School serving as the staging area. More details to follow as the date approaches.