From The Mayor's Office
A NOTE ON THE BUDGET
As discussed in last week's column, our Village is facing problems in preparing its budget for its June, 2009 - May, 2010 fiscal year, primarily due to shortfalls in income (mortgage taxes, investment income, and court-ordered commercial property tax reductions). To make up for the missing income, we can either raise residential property taxes, or cut expenses. The answer is probably - to some extent - both. Some additional income will have to be raised, and some expenses will have to be cut. On the expense side, everything is "on the table." Some capital expenses can be eliminated or deferred. Some operating expenses can be reduced. It is worth remembering, however, that employee salaries are our biggest single expense, and state law prohibits us from unilaterally reducing the salaries of our employees with union contracts. While it is true that we are free to save money by reducing the number of our employees through attrition, or even layoff if necessary, it is a challenge to specifically identify which positions should be cut. Police? Fire? Sanitation? Road crews? Water Department? Any reduction in our work force carries the risk of consequences to the level of service provided to the public, and the public's needs for public services are often greatest in times of fiscal distress.
Working with our Property Owners' Associations (and their Budget Advisory Committee), the Chamber of Commerce and the Village Executive Staff, your Board of Trustees is currently grappling with these questions. As volunteer residents ourselves, we welcome your specific suggestions.
ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE - MARCH 1
The annual St. Patrick's Day Parade on Long Island, organized by the Irish-American Society of Nassau, Suffolk and Queens, Inc., will be held in Garden City on Sunday, March 1, 2009.
The parade will assemble at 12 Noon in the parking field opposite Ninth Street and will step off at 1 p.m. proceeding north on Franklin Avenue. The parade route will be from Ninth Street, north on Franklin Avenue to Old Country Road, east on Old Country Road to County Seat Drive, south on County Seat Drive where the parade will disband. The reviewing stand will be on Old Country Road in front of the Nassau County Office Building.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES' MEETING SCHEDULE
The next regularly scheduled Board of Trustees' meetings will be held on Thursday, March 5, 2009 and on Thursday, March 19, 2009, at 8:00 p.m.
VILLAGE'S WEB SITE
I encourage residents to periodically utilize the Village's website for information regarding the Village's operations, as well as items of seasonal and special interest. The address is www.gardencityny.net. Also please be aware that I have a Village e-mail address and would be delighted to hear from Village residents about their concerns - it is as follows: MayorPBee@gardencityny.net.
