Mayor Jack M. Martins delivered the state of the village address, which was sponsored by the Mineola Chamber of Commerce, in which he offered an optimistic view of the village's finances.

"We look back over the last 100 years and are content in the knowledge that the village's fiscal health has never been better than it is today and that the village has never been better prepared for what lies ahead than it is today," Mayor Martins said.

The village, according to the mayor, is still $27 million in debt. However, the good news is that in April 2003, the village was almost $33 million in debt that came as a result of borrowing $30 million in 10 years. In addition, the village had a $1 million operating budget deficit from the previous year.

"As a result of the spending binge in the 1990s, today nearly 25 percent of your village property tax, $250 out of every $1,000, goes directly to pay debt service," Mayor Martins said.

Since then, the village's first debt management was enacted and the village began paying down its debt. As of now the village owes less than $27.5 million in long-term debt and by the end of the current fiscal year, will owe less than $27 million, according to Mayor Martins. "The village has not incurred any long-term debt at all on my watch, a fact in which I take a great deal of satisfaction," he said. "I am advocating that everyday items continue to be paid from our operating budget, that we continue to show fiscal restraint and responsibility by not taking on projects nor taking on commitments that have not been budgeted."

If the village is in such fine fiscal shape, then why aren't taxpayer's feeling it in their pockets? Taxpayers in the village, as in practically all other municipalities, have seen their taxes continue to increase. "Taxes are, and continue to be, the scourge of our times, threatening our quality of life and threatening all that we hold essential to suburban life. If nothing is done to alleviate this burden, we are left with the prospect of having to choose between our continued piece of the American dream and our ever decreasing ability to pay for it," Mayor Martins said, adding that every branch of government must play their parts to address the issue and provide alternatives and solutions.

In the Village of Mineola, like many mature suburban communities, ways have to be sought to raise revenues other than taxes to give taxpayers some relief. In many of Nassau's communities, growth will be limited and thus are ways to expand the tax base. Mayor Martins said the village, through its Master Plan, is reviewing options to spur residential development along the Old Country Road corridor adjacent to the train station.

In addition, according to Mayor Martins, alternate revenue streams such as those revenues that have come from parking meters, parking tickets, building permits, illegal housing fines and licenses have to be sought and realized. "In addition to raising non-tax based revenues through careful management, we have cut our expenses across the board including cutting overtime each of the last years and negotiating with our depository banks to more than double the interest income the village on deposits. We have budgeted revenues conservatively and budgeted expenses accurately," the mayor said, adding that for the third straight year, the village had a budget surplus.

Tax certiorari settlements and payments, which are payments back to taxpayers who successfully challenge their assessment, have also proven to be a big burden on the village's finances. Payments on tax certioraris have accounted for over $1.2 million, which is over 10 percent of the tax base. But, said Mayor Martins, the village stands ready to tackle the problem. "It will not happen this year, but we are on our way to addressing the root cause of the certioraris and eliminate it as a drain on our budget, freeing up $1.2 million in tax dollars," he said.

Mayor Martins also spoke about the ongoing changes in the village's infrastructure. While the village has strived to make improvements in the aesthetic look of its downtown through its revitalization efforts by adding brick pavers, benches and lighting to some of its downtown area, there are major construction projects ongoing, namely the Roslyn Road Grade Crossing Elimination Project and the Intermodal Center, a 1,000-car parking garage adjacent to the train station.

According to Mayor Martins, the Roslyn Road Grade Crossing Elimination Project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2007. For those who travel northbound or southbound on Roslyn Road to or from Old Country Road, the project can't come to a conclusion soon enough since traffic sometimes is backed up on the road. However, once the project is completed, the village will gain a north-south thoroughfare that will not be interrupted by trains. In addition, the village will gain a 70-car parking field at Roslyn Road and Second Street and a 100-car parking field on Second Street just east of Main Street.

The other major project is the Intermodal Center, which is being built by the MTA. The garage is scheduled to be opened this month and will provide parking for the train station as well as a bus depot. While providing parking for the village may sound good in theory, critics of Intermodal Center are concerned that such a parking facility for the public will attract more commuters to the Mineola Train Station and thereby increase traffic. Since the Intermodal Center is a state project, the village board had little power to stop its construction.

The other downside is the village is losing an estimated $250,000 annually beginning with the 2004-2005 budget since the MTA purchased the Keyspan building on Old Country Road as part of the Intermodal Center project and the MTA is a non-taxable entity. The hope is that the MTA will sell the building so that it can be developed and returned to the tax rolls.

The mayor ended the state of the village address by thanking the volunteer organizations such as the fire department, volunteer ambulance corps and auxiliary police as well as the athletic associations, the MAA and PAL. He also complimented the village's departments including the department of public works, building department, library and pool. "I wish to thank you, the citizens of Mineola for making this community one of opportunity and cooperation. Together, we can overcome any obstacle and accomplish any goal," he said.