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HERALD AN ANTON MEDIA GROUP PUBLICATION
PLAINVIEW-OLD BETHPAGE
plainviewoldbethpageherald.com
January 3 - 9, 2018
Major Leakage Audit uncovers water district mismanagement BY STEVE MOSCO
smosco@antonmediagroup.com
WHAT’S INSIDE: Paradise Isles (Kevin P. Coughlin/Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo)
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The Plainview Water District responded to an auditor’s recent findings. (Photo Courtesy of the Plainview Water District)
WHAT’S INSIDE:
Plainview Water District responded promptly to the audit and the district’s newly hired business manager is a CPA with extensive experience in governmental accounting, financial
Paradise Isles
reporting and compliance with laws and regulations—all of which are crucial to getting the district’s budget
see LEAKAGE on page 4
Town Gets Offer On Empty Property BY FRANK RIZZO
frizzo@antonmediagroup.com
A 2.28-acre parcel at the center of the Town of Oyster Bay corruption scandal seems poised to be sold. A company has bid for the property at 50 Engel St., just south of West John Street in Hicksville. It was bought by the town in November
Governor Andrew Cuomo announces Belmont arena deal for Islanders.
Vol. 68, No. 28
(Kevin P. Coughlin/Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo)
In August of 2017, the Plainview Water District hired a new business manager to get its finances in order—but the details of the fiscal and operational mismanagement only fully came to light after outgoing Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos released his official audit. Just before Christmas, Maragos released a two-year, 2015-16, audit of the Plainview Water District, which uncovered operational, personnel and fiscal deficiencies, as well as possible abuse of public funds and higher than necessary rate increases
exceeding the 2 percent tax cap by as much as 300 percent, according to Maragos and his team of auditors. “The Plainview Water District was a case study in mismanagement, run like a bad family business and not as a public utility,” said Maragos. “Everywhere the auditors looked they found fiscal, administrative and control deficiencies.” Maragos said that findings indicate that district residents were paying some of the highest annual commissioner stipends, which is more than double to comparable water districts such as Port Washington and Glenwood. However, Maragos also said the
Vacation & Travel
2013 for a reported $2.5 million, and recently appraised for $2.72 million. According to Governor Andrew Cuomo announces town spokesman Briandeal Nevin, bids were Belmont arena fortwo Islanders. received and the winning one for $3.151 million was submitted by Hicksville Bus Lot LLC. A call and email left with the parent company, First Student, were not returned.
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see PROPERTY on page 3
179098B
Established Esta Es tablished ta 1956
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