The Great Neck Plaza Board of Trustees approved a $5.7 million budget and salary schedule Jan. 20, which includes a zero percent increase in taxes to residents for the fourth consecutive year and a $200,000 decrease in spending.
“I’m proud that we can deliver a less spending budget and no tax increase,” said Village of Great Neck Plaza Mayor Jean Celender on Monday.
Celender said the village is holding the line when it comes to spending.
“To be able to do it when you’ve have lost assessments, you have to either decrease costs or lower taxes,” said Celender.
The 2011 budget is about $200,000 less than last year and includes $30,000 for a possible increase in costs for the The Great Neck Vigilant Engine and Hook & Ladder Co., Inc., a state-mandated 3.5 percent pay raise for seven union workers and a 1.7 percent pay raise for about 20 non-union village employees. The mayor and other members of the board of trustees did not receive pay raises.
To cut costs, village officials removed a $175,000 project from the budget, which would have included the installation of a new muni-meter parking system and restriping for the municipal parking garage on Grace Avenue.
“Instead of doing it all at once, we are going to do it over time,” said Pat O’Byrne, the village administrator.
With most departments taking cuts and demand for services such as snow removal, garbage and beautification expected by residents, Celender said the 2011 budget process was as hard as she has seen in her 11 years as mayor.
A public hearing will be held later this year to discuss the expected increases to the Vigilant fire services contract. No date has been set for the meeting.
