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Friday, April 25, 2025
Vol. 2, No. 17
THE GATEWAY TO NASSAU COUNTY SERVING FLORAL PARK, BELLEROSE AND STEWART MANOR
FIRE CHIEFS HONORED
Floral Park OKs budget with 2.95% tax hike BY RIKKI MASSAND
Hempstead Town Councilman Tom Muscarella (left) congratulated Outgoing Chief Emil Pape, Sr. and Corporate President Robert Syverson during the Bellerose Fire Department Chiefs Dinner on April 8, 2025 at The Inn at New Hyde Park.
Jr. Woman’s Club Craft Fair The Floral Park Junior Woman's Club will be holding its Annual Craft Fair on Sunday, May 4, (rain date Sunday, May 18) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in
Memorial Park, Tulip and Plainfield Avenues (in front of OLV). The fair will feature assorted arts and crafts
The Floral Park Villager Published every Friday by Litmor Publishing Corp. Telephone 931-0012 Postmaster: Send Address Change to: The Floral Park Villager, 821 Franklin Ave., Suite 208 Garden City, N.Y. 11530 • Meg Norris, Publisher
At its April 15 meeting, the Floral Park Village Board of Trustees approved a $34,673,796 municipal budget for fiscal year 2025–26—an increase of nearly $1.2 million from the prior year. The local tax rate will rise from $15.0392 to $15.4554 per $100 of assessed valuation, effective June 1. The tax levy will increase by 2.95%—or $840,000. Although the state tax increase cap is approximately 2%, because the total assessed value of all residential and commercial properties in the village rose significantly over the past year, the local tax rate increase is actually lower than the tax levy increase. The Village administration notes, “because the total assessed value of all taxable properties increased, the tax rate increase of 2.76% is below the tax levy increase percentage of 2.95%.” The Board of Trustees emphasized that strategic budgeting allowed for longterm investments in infrastructure and public safety. These include improvements to drainage systems, road maintenance, and the replacement of emergency vehicles and equipment for police and fire services. The total expense increase for 2025–26 is $1,187,306. The largest year-over-year increase is in the Employee Benefits line item, which rises by $488,488—from $9,463,170 to $9,951,658. An additional $436,988 was added to the “Special Items” account, which increases from $1,282,477 (3.83% of the budget) to $1,719,465 (just under 5%). At the April 9 public hearing, the board noted that a homeowner with the average assessed property value in Floral Park
will pay approximately $157.22 more in village taxes next year. A home assessed at $37,775, for example, would incur a total annual village tax of $5,838.27. The Floral Park Police Department’s budget increases by $166,777 to $8,180,649. Safety inspection expenses rise from $464,671 to $602,057, representing a jump from 1.39% to 1.74% of the total budget. In his April 2025 message, Mayor Kevin Fitzgerald cited rising pension costs as a major budget driver, tied to changes in New York State’s Tier 6 pension system. A recent legislative change reduced the final average salary calculation period from five years to three, significantly increasing required pension contributions for municipalities. The mayor wrote, “The village is obligated to pay the cost that New York State apportions to us. A few years ago, New York State created a new “Tier 6” for newly hired employees specifically designed to change the pension formulas to reduce the pension benefit costs going forward. However, last year New York State changed course and significantly changed Tier 6, which has the effect of significantly increasing required pension contributions for local governments, such as the village. Last year the New York State Senate and Assembly, with bipartisan support, passed legislation which will base a Tier 6 employee’s pension on a three-year final average salary, rather than the previous 5-year final average salary. This is projected to push future pension contributions payments higher. It is estimated that over 50% of New York State employees are in Tier 6 and this change will cost local governments over $180 million annually. See page 6
Spring comes to Centennial Gardens PAGE 12 Sewanhaka students compete on skills PAGE 14