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Babylon Village to hold annual budget hearing Monday A budget that maintains the current level of services and will, according to Babylon Village Mayor Ralph Scordino, keep the Village "clean and vibrant," will be the subject of a public hearing Mon., April 7, 7 p.m., Village Hall. The Village will also be holding its annual meeting that night following the hearing. "This is a frugal budget that will keep the level of services Village residents have come to expect, and one that will keep the Village going in the right direction," said Scordino. The budget will increase spending over this year from $7.39 million to $8.54 million, and increase the tax rate approximately 89-cents, from the current level of $10.41 per $100 in assessed value. That means that a home in the Village assessed at $5,000 will pay an additional $44.50 a year for Village taxes under the new spending plan. The total annual tax bill on the same home is currently at $520.50. The budget includes raises for the CSEA employees who have been in protracted negotiations with the Village for more than a year. The Village has offered a 5 percent raise retroactive in the first year, and a 4.5 percent increase in the second year, which the employees have rejected. Also driving up the budget this year are several factors. The revenue from mortgage taxes went down approximately $75,000 and continues to be projected at a decline for next year. Increases for the cost of gasoline and oil products, heating and electricity have gone up, as has health insurance costs and New York State Retirement contributions. TheFire Departmen's budget declined slightly from $425,927 to $423,727, and that includes two additional line items this year for the boat supplies and marine fuel. Helping to stabilize the budget are assessments, that have remained about the same as last year. "We are fortunate in that property values continue to be high and that is likely because of the quality of life we have here in the Village," said Scordino. In discussing the decisions that had to be made this year, Scordino said the only way to considerably reduce costs is to cut staff. That was something he did not want to do, he said. "There is nothing extravagant in this budget and our staffing levels are already as low as we can have them and still maintain services," said Scordino. "I would invite our residents to review this budget, and if they find a way to save more money the board is more than willing to look at it." The board will also meet for a regular meeting Tues., April 8, 8 p.m.
In other business, the board accepted, with regret, the resignations of Joseph Raverta and Gergory Brink of the Phoenix Hose Company No. 1 and Dana Dieterich and Michelle Stracansky of the Rescue Squad.
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