At their April 10 meeting, the Village of Massapequa Park board of trustees approved the 2006-2007 budget.

The budget calls for total appropriations of $5,965,873. The village's tax rate will stand at 8.37 percent of assessed valuation, with the total assessed valuation totaling at $38,213,617. Village officials said that the tax rate represents a 2 percent increase over last year's budget.

The balance of appropriations to be raised by the tax levy totals $3,198,480. Estimated revenues other than real estate taxes stand at $1,834,700. The village's estimated appropriated cash surplus totals $932,693.

Also at the April 10 meeting, the BOT appointed Kevin M. Walsh of the firm of Walsh, Markus, McDougal & DeBellis as the village attorney. Walsh will serve a one-year term.

In other personnel news, Robert G. Bruechert was sworn in to a five-year term as a Zoning Board member. Maureen Caffrey will serve a one-year term as a Zoning Board alternate.

Eugene Bryson and Thomas Murphy will each serve three-year terms as Planning Commission members. The BOT for the coming fiscal year includes Mayor James Altadonna, plus trustees Joseph G. Pinto, who is also deputy mayor; Harry Jacobson, Jeffrey Pravato; and Teresa Spinosa. Both Pravato and Ms. Spinosa were recently re-elected to the BOT without facing any opposition.

At the April 3 meeting, the BOT approved inter-municipal agreements with the Massapequa Fire Department for gasoline and diesel fuel; a shared-resources mutual aid agreement with the villages of Amityville and Farmingdale; and shared salt agreements with the Massapequa School District.

In addition, Mayor Altadonna has announced that for the convenience of residents, the village hall will remain open Thursday evenings until 8 p.m. during the months of May and June.

Residents may use the extended hours to apply for parking permits, garage sale permits, block party permits, hunting and fishing licenses, pay taxes and obtain general information. The court will remain closed.

On Saturday, April 22, the Village of Massapequa Park will hold its annual Earth Day celebration.

Several hundred Girl Scout and Boy Scout Troops, citizens and organizations will volunteer their time and energies to "clean up" Massapequa Park. They will be working in parks, parkettes, parking lots along the Long Island Rail Road and any place that needs "sprucing up."

After their work is complete, the volunteers will meet at Brady Park and enjoy a well-earned lunch prepared and served by volunteers.