Lyn adopts law to override tax levy cap

The Lynbrook Village board unanimously adopted a law for an option to override the first-ever New York state 2 percent property tax levy at a public session after their regular meeting on Monday night. The amendment was enacted for a one-year period, said Village Administrator John Giordano.

Legal notice of a Nov. 7 public hearing about the possible law was sent out in the Oct. 27 issue of the Herald. Though the notice said the hearing was scheduled for 8 p.m., the board planned to hold it at 7 p.m. during a work session. However, the board ended up holding the hearing after the general meeting. Officials skipped the hearing at their 7 p.m. work session due to the absence of an attorney, Hendrick said at the 8 p.m. televised public meeting.

Before the general meeting ended, Hendrick apologized for not holding the hearing earlier, to which a few residents had come at 7 p.m. with questions, he said. “We are not hiding it in any way, [we’re] just not getting to it,” he said. He added that residents could call his office with questions, and that the hearing would be held in an executive session at the end of the meeting that would be open to the public.

Giordano briefly explained that other municipalities were considering the cap override at the general meeting. Officials stressed that the law did not mean that the village would exceed the tax levy cap, but have an option to do so if necessary.

Due to limited time, the board also voted to skip the Good & Welfare portion of the meeting.

“Typically, we have public hearings at 7 p.m.,” explained Giordano. “… people showed up at 7 when it was advertised for 8 p.m. We advised people in attendance that we will still hold the hearing.”

At the hearing, Hendrick and the village board unanimously passed the law to override the tax levy cap, which limits the amount a school district or village can increase their property tax levies annually to only two percent. There was one resident in attendance at that time.