Bethpage-Tribune_1971-11-11

              Bethpage Public Ubraqr
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Island Trees Serving Bethpage - Plainview — Island Trees — Plainedge - Seaford Old Bethpage
V0L6N0. l Thursday, November 11,1971 10c par copy
Photos - in • The - News One Tax Down, Another Up
In Nassau County Budget
OLD BETH: 'Tw© youngsters fromOld Bethpage.
Janet Lazarus and Gary Apple, accept scholarship
certificates from Oyster Bay Town Councilman
Warren ML Doolittle. The two teens will study with the
Town's Teen Repertory Theatre for the 1971-72 season.
Both Janet (44 Michael Drivejand Gary (9 Jane Drive)
are students at Plainview Kennedy High.
Nassau County Executive
Ralph G. Caso sent to the Board
of Supervisors this week a
proposed budget for 1972 that
provides a cut in the general fund
tax rate of more than 19 cents for
most property owners, at the cost
of a one-percent sales tax hike.
Specifically, the rate per $100 of
assessed valuation will drop 19.3
cents in Hempstead Town, 19.5
cents in Oyster Bay and North
Hempstead, 22.9 cents in Glen
Cove and 10.2 cents in Long
Beach. The reductions are
possible despite a $65 million
jump in the gross total, which will
rise to $426 million, because of a
recommended one-cent hike in
the local sales tax, Casp. ex­plained:
-
"While it is never pleasant to
impose additional taxes, I feel
this is the time to increase the
sales tax to our legal limit. We
are faced with a strangling
money situation that would place
an intolerable burden on the
property tax base, and we are in
jeopardy of forfeiting to the state
the extra penny of sales tax," the
' county executive stated.
He contended that recent'
statements by legislative leaders
indicate a growing feeling.that
counties who have not used the
sales tax limits available will be
superseded by the state, possibly
this year. For that reason, and
because Nassau is "dangerously
close" to its property tax ceiling,
Caso is proposing the higher sales
tax, effective March 1, 1972.
Without it, the tax rate would
have to go up about $1.04.
Presented on a program basis
Caso also decried the heavy
imbalance of mandated costs his
administration faced in
struggling with the budget.
Almost 62 per cent of the total, he
disclosed, was out of his control
because of state or. federal
regulations and contract
obligations. He repeated his
frequently-stated plea for federal
and state revenue-sharing,
pointing out in a lengthy budget
message that only 11 cents of the
tax dollars sent to Washington
are returned to localities in this
state. t
One segment of the fiscal
package remains unsettled
pending the outcome of contract
negotiations with the Civil Ser­vice
Employees Association,
though Caso gave assurances
that the budget offers enough
flexibility in salary lines to
permit "a reasonable raise."
There will be no raises for high
echelon officials, he said.
While more than $53 million
was slashed from departmental
requests, Caso pointed out,
sufficient fiscal latitude remains
in all categories for the con­tinuance
of essential services as
well as expansion of certain
progrrams deemed vital. A
limited number of new services
will be introduced at the
discretion of department ad­ministrators,
consistent with
their obligation to stay within
budgetary limitations, the county
executive explained.
In . concluding his com­prehensive
budget dissertation,
which accompanied a complete
line-by-line budget, Caso urged
the board to adopt his budget as
propsosed. It is expected to do so.
for the first time this year, the
budget shows the costs of
operating the eight major
categories of government -
health, social benefits, public
protection, transportation,
education, recreation-cultural,
general support and legal-fiscal-management
control. For
example, the bulk of the in­creased
spending can be found in
health services (up. $16 million or
16 per cent)* social benefits up
or 27 per cent). Another $12
million can be traced to picking
up a $7 million deficit left from
the prior administration coupled
with a decision not to seek a $5
million sales tax advance, a
practice used last year for fiscal
expediency.
"This is a responsible financial
document, prepared on a sound
business-like basis by my fiscal
administrator, Thomas G.
DeVivo.'It gives a clear picture of
where this government stands
with no trickery or fancy
financial footwork to delude our
citizens," Caso said. "Many
hours of conferences have gone
into this effort to balance' the
county books, as I promised to do.
last year. We have unmortgaged
our financial future by
eliminating deficits."
A WINNER IN BETHPAGE: Photo of office building of The
Equitable Life Assurance Society of the U. S. in Bethpage is the
subject of al eyes at last Friday's LIA Archi Awards Recognition
Dinner, sponsored jointly by the Long Island Association and the
American Institute of Architects, L. I. Chapter, held at the Holiday
Manor in Bethpage. Shown here are, from left, Frederic G.
Wiedersum. partner in Frederic P. Wiedersum Associates, Ar­chitects-
Engineers of Valley Stream, New York, who was awarded a .
silver 'Archi' for excellence in the building's design; Robert
Schlageter. Vice President, Real Estate Department of The
Equitable: and Arthur E. Poole. LIA's Vice President of Public
Affairs. The Wiedersum firm, recipientof eight design awards in the
past seven years of LIA's architectural competition, also received
winner certificates In the categories of structural, mechanical and
electrical engineers for the project.
Men's Club Presents 'Fiddler1
The Men's Club of the Bethpage
Jewish Center is presenting a full
productinon of the hit musical,
"FIDDLER ON THE ROOF" to
help raise funds for rebuilding
their Synagogue, which was
completely destroyed by a fire.
The production is sponsored by
the Bethpage Kiwanis and will be
held at the Bethpage High School
on Saturday evenings Nov. 20, 27
and Dec. 4. Prices are $4.50, $3.75,
$3.00 with special student section
at $1.50.
Ticket information is available
from WE 8-7909 or GE 3-7129.
Security National Bank hat
announced the promotion of
Bethpager Frank H. Scarangella,
Assistant Vice President, to the
position of Assistant Director of
Marketing.
Scarangella joined Security
National in 1968 and prior to his
new appointment, served as
officer in charge of the bank's
Product Planning and Develop­ment
Section. He was formerly
associated with First National
City Bank.
Witches and scary stories! It's all in fun at the
Halloween costume parade and party at the Bethpage
Public Library on Thursday, October 28. An
auditorium filled with ghosts and goblins came dressed
as their favorite story book characters, and listened to
spooky stories told by members of the Girl Scouts.
Jane Kelly, of 7 Plainview Road, Bethpage, won first
prize in the costume contest as Peter Pan. Pictured
here are: Michael Brennan, of 50 Armon Drive, Beth­page
and Donna Parisi of 16 Manor Drive, Bethpage.