Adopted RVC Village Budget to Remain Within Tax Cap

The Village of Rockville Centre Board of Trustees approved Thursday night a resolution to adopt the budget for the next fiscal year that stays within the tax cap while maintaining all village services.

The budget of $41.8 million is an increase of approximately $1 million or 2.57 percent above the current fiscal year budget.

Because the total assessed valuation dropped in the village like every other village in Nassau County primarily due to successful commercial challenges, the increase in the tax rate is 4.20 percent -- this is the lowest increase since fiscal year 2006.

The village pointed out that 3 percent of the increase is directly attributed to the significant hike in mandatory retirement system contributions and health care costs. These two items alone account for nearly $9 million dollars of the overall budget.

Like other municipalities, the Rockville Centre Board had hoped for significant retirement assistance relief from Albany, but that now seems unlikely.

"I believe this budget balances the need to hold down taxes and not impact the services that residents have come to expect and enjoy," Mayor Francis Murray said. "The spending plan we are putting forth is the product of a great deal of work by the village, our comptroller and our department heads to hold down costs wherever possible. We will continue to look for ways to reduce costs and bring in additional revenue to the village."

As part of the budget, effective June 1, there will be a change in the time and costs for on street parking.

Currently, many of the village's meters only allow for parking up to one hour at a cost of 60 cents per hour. Under the new program, parking will be permitted for 80 minutes at a cost of $1 at many of the meters.

One-hour parking will increase to seventy-five cents. Parking after 6 p.m. will remain.

Residents can view the spending plan on the village's website.