Russell Gardens officials propose budget, host state Sen. Phillips

Janelle Clausen
State Sen. Elaine Phillips spoke before a group of residents at a Russell Gardens board meeting on Thursday, outlining some of her legislative priorities and accomplishments. (Photo from Khristopher Brooks on YouTube)

The Village of Russell Gardens introduced a proposed budget for 2018-19  at a village board meeting last week, which would feature a roughly $100,000 spending increase compared to the current budget.

The proposed $1.66 million budget includes a $35,000 increase in government support spending from $375,762 to $410,700, partially due to allocating $10,000 each to computer support and records management.

Transportation costs would amount to the biggest overall increase, from $558,500 in this year’s budget to $634,000 for 2018/19. The costliest line item is labor, worth $279,500, followed by the storage shed on Vivian Lane, which is worth $125,000.

Undistributed employee benefits, consisting of state retirement, social security and hospital medical insurance costs, would also increase by $15,000 from $267,000 to $282,000.

These projected increases would be partially be offset by decreases in public safety and cultural and recreational costs, the budget suggests.

Public safety costs would also be more than halved, with code enforcement having a $3,000 budget instead of a $15,000 one and the building inspector getting $17,000 rather than $25,000.

The budget for the tennis courts would decrease from $160,000 to $150,000.

Village officials will have a public hearing for the budget on Jan. 4, 2018, the first Thursday of the new year.

In unrelated business, village officials also hosted state Sen. Elaine Phillips, who outlined some of her legislative accomplishments and priorities for the 7th District.

Phillips said that water is the most value resource on Long Island, but that there are problems with salt water and contaminants.

One of the contaminants present in Long Island’s waters includes 1,4 dioxane, a possible carcinogen normally seen in items like detergents, shampoo and personal care products, Phillips said.

Phillips also said that she was able to help secure more than $10 million for the Great Neck Water Pollution Control District to help fund items like a grease receiving station, which would be the only one in Nassau County.

Phillips also highlighted the receipt of a $100,000 grant for Great Neck Public Schools capital projects, $10,000 in bullet aid for the Great Neck Libraries, and that $1 million has been allocated for veteran peer-to-peer programs.

“Money is coming back into the district and remember every dollar I can get back is every dollar you get back in taxes,” Phillips said.

Additionally, Phillips said she signed onto legislation to extend a tax abatement for older residents in Nassau County.

“I can’t be prouder to say that who I helped first are our seniors,” Phillips said. “They created our community. The least we can do is make it more affordable for them to live in our community.

Phillips also said she sponsored legislation to extend health benefits to volunteer firefighters “for giving back to our communities.”

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