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Trustees discuss '04-05 Budget
by Jim Golding
Freeport trustees held a public hearing Monday for the village's $47.85 million budget for 2004-05, which calls for a tax increase of nearly 11.75 percent with a tax rate of $39.80 per $100 valuation beginning April 1.
Additionally, the village Electric Department is seeking an 18.9 percent increase in rates over the next three years from the Public Utilities Commission. The rate hearing was to take place January 7.
More than 50 persons turned out for the budget hearing. Several expressed their opposition to, higher taxes, which have been rising about 10 percent annually over the past seven years.
An estimated $30,597,816 of the total $47,854,555 would be raised through taxes.
Total assessed valuation is $76,875,218.
Spending would increase over the previous year's budget by about $3.2 million.
"I'm extremely disappointed," said one outspoken critic of the budget, Bernard Smith. "All we hear is there's nothing you can do. You're doing a lousy job. Stop overtaxing us."
He also told trustees they're "not making the hard choices about downsizing staff' and making other spending cuts, including reducing salaries by 10 percent and overtime expenses.
Mr. Smith and others who spoke at the meetnTg also complained that higher taxes are causing residents to move from the village.
"If they cannot reduce the taxes so we can stay here, we need a new board," he said.
Nancy Caracciolo complained about the loss of the quality of life in Freeport because of the constant tax increases. She noted that her three children participi'.e in several community activities such as Little League and skating at the Recreation Center that require payment of fees, but the tax increase will force her and many other parents to reduce their children's outside activities.
YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK. The new Nautical Mile at night.
"What should the children of the village not be able to do because their parents have to pay more, taxes," she said. "We're not an affluent community. People cannot afford to stay here."
Stephanie Riveaux complained about the village's bonded indebtedness, now
about $100 million, and called for more revenue producing efforts, including attracting more industry to the village, rather than increasing taxes. The debt service on the bonds is about $6.25 million under the proposed budget.
"We can't continue this," she said.
continued on page 3
Still looking for 2004's 1st baby
2003 MOTHER OF THE YEAR Galen Elmore-Ryteil with mother Diane.
The Leader is still accepting entries for its First Baby of the Year contest. The parents of the First baby bom in Freeport/Baldwin in 2004 will win a bottle of champagne from Atlantic Bayview Wines and Liquor, a gift certificate for mom from Jean Peters, a $25 gift certificate from Aileen's Kids and a one year gift subscription to The Leader.
Contest Rules
• The baby must be bom to a parent who is residing in Freeport or Baldwin.
The exact time of birth must be certified by an attending physician.
• AH entries must be received within 21 days of baby's birth and should be sent to First Baby C ontest, care of this paper
• In the event of a tie, d drawing will be held to determine the winner.
• Gifts must be claimed within f/^'l ;i.^ 90 days with a p-^^^^^A^'^ letter from this ||„^f|^s1"^? newspaper {4 (except where 1;;; stated). =°5
1 WNIlliiiRt
FHS Coach McKinnonj^s
page §^^
College ptip at Dodd
pages 9
g^Lady Devils win Tournament
page 14
Magnet schools meet
page 14
Object Description
| Rating | |
| Title | The-Leader_2004-01-08 |
| Subject | Newspaper |
| Description | This is a Newspaper distributed locally within the Village of Freeport and Baldwin. |
| Creator | Linda Toscano |
| Publisher | L & M Publications, Inc. |
| Contributors | Scanned by Imaging & Microfilm Access, Inc. (Bohemia, NY 11716) |
| Date | 2004 |
| Type | Periodical |
| Format | PDF; TIFF |
| Source | Freeport Memorial Library |
| Language | English |
| Coverage | United States |
| Rights | This digital image may be freely used for educational uses, as long as it is not altered in any way. No commercial reproduction or distribution of this image is permitted without written permission of the Freeport Memorial Library, 144 W. Merrick Road, Freeport, NY 11520 or email: frreference@freeportlibrary.info |
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