Kings Point tax hike stirs mixed reactions

Kings Point trustees passed their 2011-12 budget last night including a 9.8 percent property tax increase during an at-times contentious public hearing.

During the hearing, residents gave mixed reviews to the tax hike and a new camera surveillance system designed to track vehicles in and out of the village.

Late last night, the trustees passed the budget by a vote of 4 to 0. One trustee was absent.

"I think you guys have a responsibility to control the budget," resident Catherine Romano told the village board of trustees during the hearing before the vote. "I think a 9.8 percent increase in this environment is unacceptable."

Mayor Michael Kalnick said the tax increase was necessary because of a reduction in property values and state aid as well as an increase in unfunded mandates and health insurance costs. He urged residents to keep the increase in perspective. It amounts to $600 more per household annually, Kalnick said.

The nearly $14.57-million budget raised the tax rate from $31.25 per $100 of assessed valuation to $34.32 per $100, officials said.

The trustees adopted the budget March 31 after a public hearing that no residents attended. The village scheduled a second hearing for Wednesday night after residents complained they weren't properly notified.

Earlier, members of the Kings Point Civic Association sent a letter to the village pressing trustees to rein in overtime costs, reduce spending on legal matters and eliminate the plan to install license plate scanners and video cameras at all entrances to the village.

At last night's meeting, Kalnick said the average cost of the surveillance camera and license plate scanner program will be $60 per household for five years. Wednesday, the camera led to the impounding of two cars with suspended registrations, one belonging to a resident, one not.

"Many times when you stop a car like that it's more than a suspended registration," Kalnick said.

Earlier this week, Newsday reported that the village had launched a plan to install 44 cameras and license plate scanners at all village entrances and compare license plates against state and federal crime databases, which include lists of wanted persons, stolen cars and sex offenders.

Great Neck resident Robert Danziger criticized the plan, saying many in his village have to use Kings Point roads to get where they're going. "Now I have to go through your big brother," he said. "I had no say in this."

Others supported the plan.

"The concept of anything no matter what expense, $60 or $6,000, is well worth the protection of our properties," resident Kenneth J. Rosenthal said at the public hearing.