On behalf of the board of commissioners of the Manhasset-Lakeville Water and Fire District, I extend to you our invitation to attend, at our office, the 8 p.m. Oct. 5, public hearing to receive your comments on the district's proposed Fiscal Year 2005 budgets.

The board is pleased to announce that there will be no tax increases in both the water and fire districts for fiscal year 2005. In addition, the board continues to hold the district's water usage rate schedule without change. Overall, our district continues to be recognized as one of the lowest cost Water and Fire District operations in North Hempstead.

The Water District receives revenue largely from two sources. The first source is a District Water Tax applied against the assessed value of eligible district-water properties as compiled by the Town of North Hempstead. The second source is the sale of metered potable water sold on a progressive block rate schedule based on 1,000 gallon increments consumed.

The projected 2005 Fiscal Year Tax Rate will remain unchanged at $2.53 per $100 of property assessed valuation. We are able to accomplish this stable rate by holding the fiscal year 2005 Water District expenditures at $7,103,210 e.g. $74,050 less than fiscal year 2004. This reduction in expenses is largely coupled with the loss of revenue on lower assessed valuation from a 2004 base of $85,410.959 down to 2005 year base of $83,410,959.

The remaining source of our Water District revenue is generated from the unchanged rates of metered potable water. This cost effective 2005 fiscal year water budget is designed to continue our district's proud heritage of providing plentiful, fully tested and certified best quality drinking water delivered via an uninterrupted, secure system.

The Fire District relies almost entirely on tax revenues based on assessed property valuations. In this regard, the fire tax rate for Fiscal Year 2005 will remain unchanged at $4.93 per $100 of assessed property valuations. The Fire District 2005 Fiscal Year Budget is projected with expenditures of $4,644,524 e.g., $356.115 higher than Fiscal Year 2004. This budget increase largely reflects new Capital Plant Improvements, mandated New York State Retirement, Workers' Compensation and Health Insurance costs. Offsetting these expenses are revenues from accumulated Capital Reserves and unappropriated prior year funds. Since the Fire District's organization in 1912, our community has steadfastly supported the upkeep of the infrastructure of our five firehouses and its firefighting apparatus, manned by our dedicated volunteer professional fire emergency responders. Our projected 2005 Fire District Budget will support this tradition while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

We welcome your interest in the content of these proposed budgets which have been carefully prepared to minimize the financial impact on our community taxpayers while providing adequate funds to assure the delivery of highest quality Water and Fire Services.

Manhasset-Lakeville Water/Fire Districts

James E. Sharkey, Chairman