Looking Ahead Toward Budget Season
by Denise Wright
Local Law 1 of 2021 was introduced at the January 13 East Nassau Board of Trustees meeting. This law enables the Board to override the state-mandated two percent tax cap if necessary when developing the Village’s budget, which begins on June 1, 2021. According to the resolution, the village board will be “fiscally responsible” to provide “sufficient and adequate services to Village residents and keep Village taxes as low as feasible.” This resolution enables the Board the “flexibility” during the budget process to “increase revenues” so village services will not suffer. While the Board does not intend to raise taxes and doesn’t “foresee the necessity of exceeding the property tax cap,” having the ability approved before the 2021-2022 budget process commences enables the budget development to be more efficient.
Mayor Adam Acquario stated, “The Village is required per state mandate to pass this law. Through conservative and practical budgeting, we have never breached the state-mandated tax cap.” The Board of Trustees will be holding a public hearing on this resolution on February 10, at 6:45 pm at the Hoags Corners Ambulance Building on Town Garage Road. A copy of the resolution will be placed on the Village’s website. Residents can attend the meeting, space permitting, and social distancing and masks are required. The “hearing will be held remotely via video conferencing if circumstances warrant.”