Tax Levy Reduction In Roslyn Harbor

Written by Joe Scotchie: jscotchie@antonnews.com Friday, 27 April 2012 00:00

Board of trustees approves 3 percent revenue decrease

The Village of Roslyn isn’t the only municipality in the area to pass a budget that not only holds the line on revenue, but one that actually manages to give residents a tax reduction.

The Village of Roslyn Harbor passed their 2012-13 budget last Wednesday, with the board of trustees approving a 3 percent reduction in the overall tax levy. Village officials said that this follows last year’s reduction of 2.5 percent and the prior 2 years of flat taxes under Mayor Yvette Edidin’s tenure.

Commenting on the budget, Mayor Edidin said that she has “aggressively managed” the budget in past years, all as a way to prevent a tax increase during a recession, while still increasing services. Toward that end, Mayor Edidin cited several initiatives: the village’s first municipal garbage and recycling service, a renovated village hall, the village’s first playground, a private security force, an upgraded road and drainage infrastructure, and increased government transparency.

“When the recession hit in my first year as mayor, village revenues collapsed by nearly 40 percent,” Mayor Edidin said. “Despite this, our administration was able to hold taxes flat for two years and even decrease taxes in the last two years. I have one message for thoughtful voters out there: It is possible to do more with less.  If the right people with the right skill set are in charge of a budget, it can be managed tightly without waste and be optimized for taxpayer benefit.  I want to say thank you to my outgoing Deputy Mayor Eric Schuster who was critical in both inspiring and executing all of these accomplishments as well as to my current staff Clerk/Treasurer Valerie Onorato, Deputy Clerk/Court Clerk Nicole Rhodes and my hardworking board who passed the budget including the 3 percent tax decrease: David Mandell, Louis Badolato, Jeremy Rosof, and Cheryl Stasky Mora. I look forward to our future accomplishments together.”

The Village of Roslyn budget saw a 2 percent tax cut, with Mayor John Durkin citing the retirement of an outstanding bond, plus “prudent financial planning and cost cutting measures.”

The East Hills budget saw no tax increases, with Mayor Michael R. Koblenz noting such cost cutting measures as refinancing overall bonds and those from a repaving project on Forest Drive by a commercial developer.

Finally, the Village of Roslyn Estates board of trustees approved a budget that Mayor Jeff Schwartzberg said had “flat taxes in real dollars.” In addition, the village, Mayor Schwartzberg said, was able to introduce “a number of sound business practices which included establishing capital reserves that will allow us to prepare for future infrastructure maintenance, repair and replacement programs. This upcoming year’s budget continues to build upon those reserves… over time, our village will be in a much stronger financial position to deal with normal wear and tear issues that will surely arise.”