Mayor Hendrick: 'The Village is in Excellent Shape'

Despite the national economic recession that has plagued governments, businesses and citizens all across the country, the Village of Lynbrook is still running smoothly, according to Mayor Bill Hendrick.

Making his first State of the Village address on Monday night at Village Hall, Hendrick acknowledged that despite experiencing tough economic times, the village's financial planning and department downsizing over the past five years has helped prepare Lynbrook for the near future. 

"Our accomplishments in 2010 and those in previous years have put Lynbrook in a good position to thrive in 2011 in a tough economy," Hendrick told residents at Monday's meeting. "Your board and I have set forth goals and visions to continue our success into the new year."

FINANCIAL CHALLENGES

With the economy still lagging, Lynbrook will find that the cost of running its government will be a bit more expensive in 2011 than in past years.

Many village revenue sources, such as mortgage tax and interest revenue, were hit hard by the recession. Also troubling for the board is a jump in the village's share of state retirement and health insurance premiums. In recent years, those two items comprised less than nine percent of the village budget — this year, they will make up roughly 20 percent.

"These are non-funded mandates," Hendrick explained. "That's where the money's going."

However, a jump in expenses does not necessarily mean a tax hike for residents in 2011. The board is actively working to bring in more commercial property — such as redeveloping the former Mangrove feather factory building, filling the long-vacant strip of stores below the Lynbrook railroad trestle on Atlantic Avenue, and building a new movie theater on Merrick Road.

Additionally, the village's revenue and expense projections are reportedly on target, and the board is expecting a $4-million surplus for 2011. Hendrick said the surplus will be used partially toward stabilizing this year's taxes.

Moody's recently upgraded the village's bond rating to AA status, the highest rating Lynbrook has received in 38 years.

PROJECTS

• Movie theater — The village has been in talks with Regal over the possibility of the company building a new United Artists movie theater on Merrick Road. Discussions are still in the early stages.
• Mangrove feather factory — Many Lynbrook residents call it the "feather building." It is a multi-storied building, located on Broadway next to the railroad tracks, that has been vacant for many years. The village is actively seeking developers for the run-down property.
• Vacant stores on Atlantic Avenue — A strip of stores — commonly referred to by the board as the "MTA stores" — under the railroad trestle on Atlantic Avenue have been empty for over a decade. The MTA, which owns the property, recently released a request for proposals seeking potential tenants. The board has been in talks with the MTA on offering deals in which the tenant would be offered a decade or so of free rent if they were committed to investing their own money in fixing up the property. This project is of utmost importance to many Atlantic Avenue business owners, who believe that the vacant stores have a negative impact on commerce in the area.
• Streetscapes — The village is continuing street improvement projects along Hendrickson Avenue and Lakeview Avenue, near what board members have dubbed "the five corners." Similar projects are being done on Scranton Avenue, Broadway, and Sunrise Highway. The village has funded these streetscape projects largely through grants.

MOVING FORWARD

Hendrick acknowledged tough economic times ahead, but stressed that the board will be responsible with its finances in 2011 — funding projects and services necessary for the village, but also keeping in mind that residents are facing tough times themselves. The mayor said he and the board would work to keep Lynbrook a "relatively low-tax, low-debt community."

"Clearly the economy has been our greatest challenge and will continue to challenge the Village of Lynbrook through 2011," Hendrick said. "The village is in excellent shape, and we will continue to work tirelessly on the economy, on taxes, and on helping people find jobs."