Long Islanders, Are we are finally coming to our senses?
Let’s hope it’s not to late to undue the economic stranglehold that years of extravagant spending and out-of-control tax hikes have produced.
Yet, four Long Island towns still have proposed their new budgets having tax increases piercing Gov.Cuomo’s 2 percent tax cap. Shame, shame on Bridgehampton, East Hampton, Sayville and West Babylon!
Why can’t they follow some of our own neighbors instead?
1 – In my present home town of North Hills, Mayor Marvin Matiss just announced that we would not have any tax increases at all next year. None! Way to go, Mr. Mayor.
2 – Roslyn Village’s proposed budget is up only .12 percent. Keep up the good work Mayor Durkin.
By the way, our Roslyn School Board informed us that our school taxes would only go up .65 percent. It’s a start and quite better than in many previous years. But remember that this is the same school district whose superintendent was convicted of stealing over one million dollars a year and no one even noticed that the money was missing! Where is the million dollars each year that we saved while he was in prison ?
3 – East Hills, another one of my neighboring villages, also projects a zero percent tax increase.
Who will be the first to pass a tax reduction? Who knows? But it’s nice to dream, isn’t it ?
The message is loud and clear. Taxpayers are finally fed up with these ridiculous tax and spend policies. But there is a new game in town.
Some are raising their budgets but the tax rate remains below the 2 percent tax cap because others are footing the bill! Plandome Manor (9.6 percent ) and The Village of Munsey Park (14.6 percent) used bookkeeping shananigans and convoluted reasoning to justify remaining within the 2 percent tax cap. That’s because some of their proposed expenditures are paid by the state.
After all , if New York State taxpayers pay for it, it must be free ! Right?
How about trying something really different? If your pet projects, ones that you just can’t live without , are so important, why can’t you just cut other less important items from the budget to stay within the tax cap? Reduce spending? On Long Island? That’s heresy !
Roslyn School district is voting on May 10, for a $41.3 million dollar capital referendum bond issue.
Must I repeat that? Fix up our schools at a cost of $41.3 million dollars? Got it?
That huge amount is not a misprint. In March’s issue of Roslyn’s school-newsletter, “Scope”, their spending spree is mapped out for us.
According to them, it’s perfectly okay to borrow such a huge amount, because it will “have a minimal effect in our taxes”?
What a reason?
“State aid payments (here we go again!) and retirement of old debt,” will “greatly reduce the impact on taxpayers”.
After all, “interest rates are at historically low levels,” and “Roslyn has a high bond rating.”
Basically, they just waited for other debt to be paid off and now, according to the board, is the perfect time to start the Ponzi scheme, (whoops! sorry,) to start the borrowing cycle all over again.
Don’t forget, Roslyn was the original home of Bernie Madoff.
Dr. Stephen Morris
North Hills
