Serving The Willistons, Albertson, Herricks, Mineola, and Searingtown
$1
Friday, April 17, 2015
vol. 64, no. 16
Guide to the Willistons and Mineola WiLLiSTON WiLLiSTON PArk • EAST
• SEAriNGTOW N miNEOLA • ALBErTSON
a blank slate media special
GUIde To THe wILLIsToNs, mINeoLa
sTayING TRUe To w.P. RooTs
aRResT IN aLLeGed mURdeR PLoT
pAGes s1-s64
pAGe 3
pAGe 22
section • april 17, 2015
Williston park votes to break state tax cap
LIGHt It up BLue
In 3-1 split, village approves 3.1 percent increase to avoid cuts By Ja m es G a L L o w ay The Williston Park Board of Trustees vote 3-1 on Monday to override the state’s property tax cap and dissent by adopting a budget for next fiscal year about $65,000 over what the cap would allow. Two trustees and Mayor Paul Ehrbar voted in support of the budget, while Trustee Teresa Thomann voted against. “Most of the board members felt the thing to do this time was to go over the 2 percent tax cap and try to maintain the services that we’re trying to provide to our residents — and I think our residents want it,” Deputy Mayor Kevin Rynne said. The $4.8 million adopted budget for 2015-16 represents a 3.13 percent increase over the 2014-15 budget. The tax cap allowed for a 1.62 percent increase, which would result in a $4.73 million budget. Village Clerk Julie Kain roughly estimated the average person might
see an increase of $75 in his or her taxes. “I do not support overriding the tax cap,” Thomann said. “Our budget practices have been prudent and appropriate the past few years…we are fiscally healthy. It is my position that we can continue on that path within the tax cap allowance.” Ehrbar said the village needed to override the tax cap or cut services. “I thought we did the best we could without cutting services,” he said. “In order to keep services at a reasonable level, I believe we have to go over the cap, though I regret having to do so.” Overriding the tax cap required a 60 percent supermajority by the five-person board of trustees. Overriding the tax cap for school districts requires a 60 percent popular vote by residents. Trustee Michael Uttaro could not attend the hearing because he was working as a fire coordinator Continued on Page 47
Angelina’s pizzeria in Williston “lights it up blue” with painted windows blue in honor of World Autism Awareness Day.
Lt. governor touts Cuomo’s teacher evaluation changes By Ja m es G a L L o w ay
greater focus on standardized test scores — a suggestion that drew the ire of schools, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul on unions and lawmakers — sayMonday touted Gov. Andrew ing the state needs more objecCuomo’s proposal to reign in tive metrics to identify failing teacher evaluations with a schools and teachers.
Hochul, who sat down with Blank Slate Media, joined Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s ticket in his re-election bid last year, replacing former Lt. Governor Bob Duffy. Continued on Page 47
For the latest news visit us at www.theislandnow.com D on’t forget to follow us on Twitter @theislandnow1 and Facebook at facebook.com/theislandnow