Greak Neck approves budget, tax increase

The operating budget for the Village of Great Neck is getting smaller but taxes will increase for the first time in four years.

The board of trustees Tuesday night approved the $10.4-million budget, down from nearly $10.66 million the year before.

Taxes, however, will rise 3.8 percent for residents inside the village sewer district and 9.5 percent for those areas served by the Town of North Hempstead, Mayor Ralph Kreitzman said.

The village typically applies surplus money to keep the tax rate down but reduced that amount this year to $700,000. Last year, the village applied $1.485 million from the surplus. The decision to use less is due, in part, to the June 24 microburst that struck the village, costing $500,000 to remove trees and clear roads.

Increases in pension and insurance costs also contributed, Kreitzman said.