Take 2: Malverne Village Board Overrides Tax Cap Again

The Malverne village board once again unanimously voted in favor of a law to override the tax cap imposed by New York State Thursday night.

The board had already , giving them the power to adopt a budget with a tax levy increase that exceeds the 2-percent cap. However, they soon discovered that a mistake had been made in the Notice of Public Hearing published in the local Herald newspaper. The notice indicated that the hearing to discuss the tax cap law would be held on April 12, rather than April 4.

Therefore, like a scene out of the movie "Groundhog Day" the board recovened Thursday night to discuss and vote on the tax cap again. First, they agreed to rescind the law passed on April 4, and then read the one that would replace it.

For the second time, Mayor Patricia Norris McDonald explained the need for the village to pass the override.

"Every effort has been made to stay under the 2 percent tax cap, while still providing the same services to our residents. However, there are certain increases that are beyond our control," she said, echoing the remarks she made at last week's hearing. 

"The goal of this board has always been to provide the lowest tax rate possible, but the adoption of this law will give us the flexbility to go over the tax cap should it become necessary," she added.

Deputy Mayor Joesph Hennessy, who is also the village's budget director, explained that the purpose of this law is to "protect the village" from paying hefty penalties if it unintentionally went over the cap due to a miscalculation. 

But "as the process went on ... and the board was presented with the budget," Hennessy said, "it became evident that there was no way we could stay under the 2 percent."

The budget currently proposed by the village at this time carries with it a 2.63 percent tax levy increase. Among the cost increases that were out of the board's hands, he said, was a 48 percent rise in penion costs and a 12 percent jump in the village's liability and fleet insurance. 

After explaining the need for the cap yet again, the board opened up the floor to public comment, but like last week, no residents had attended. Then, they unanimously approved the override. 

A second public hearing was held minutes later to discuss the tentative budget for 2012-2013. Look for coverage of this meeting tomorrow on Patch.