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Friday, October 6, 2017
Vol. 77, No. 40
Deal for Marriott Hotel developer at Milleridge Inn
PIZZA PARTY
BY RIKKI N. MASSAND
Alan Yu from the audit firm Cullen & Danowski, LLP presented the school board and community members with the 2016-2017 academic year (which ended June 30) audit report. Prior to the 7:15 p.m. board meeting he had met with Jericho Schools’ internal audit committee and school board members. Cullen & Danowski worked extensively with Assistant Superintendent for Business Affairs Victor Manuel and his staff. Last
At the Jericho Board of Education meeting on Thursday night, September 28 Superintendent of Schools Hank Grishman broke news about a major project coming to the neighborhood of Jericho Middle School and Jericho High School, as well as implications it has for district revenues from a PILOT program (payment in lieu of taxes). Earlier in the day on September 28, Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano announced that the Nassau County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) approved economic development compacts that pave the way for development of Resident Inn by Marriott extended stay hotels: one at Roosevelt Field in Garden City, the other at the Milleridge Inn in Jericho. The IDA board approved both at their September 27 meeting. “These are important hotel projects for Nassau County at a time when there is heavy demand for hotel rooms. They will create new jobs for our residents, provide convenient places to stay for business people and visitors on extended stays and will generate millions in economic benefit for the community,” said County Executive Mangano. The new Jericho Residence Inn will be at 410 Jericho Turnpike, less than one-quarter mile north of the Long Island Expressway and Northern State Parkway. Plans indicate building 127 hotel suites on four floors in a section of the Milleridge Inn’s parking lot, which was “parceled off.” According to Mangano’s office the projects, proposed by separate developers, together would create 200 full-time-equivalent construction industry jobs, 75 full-time equivalent permanent jobs, generate total economic benefits of $64 million and $19.5 million in new tax revenues for the affected taxing jurisdictions. But Jericho Schools begins the outlook by striking a deal with developer Twenty Six Sunset, LLC and gaining approval by the school board on the same day as the county announcement, “authorizing an agreement with the company.” Superintendent Grishman said his administration had met with the development attorneys, and as outlined by Board President William Ferro the school district will receive a sum of $375,000 – with approximately $50,000 per year in a seven-year payout. Ferro’s immediate comment at the September 28 meeting was “the $375,000 clearly benefits the district.” The Residence Inn will not receive a tax abatement. Jericho Schools Assistant Superintendent for Business Affairs Victor Manuel explained that longstanding taxes from the Jericho Commons, Atrium, and the Milleridge Inn will all continue but for the hotel, a sum of $85,000 per year would be coming from the PILOT payout instead of assessed school taxes for the property. Manuel and Grishman said there’s minimal loss for the district on the property taxes in question. Superintendent Grishman told the community that the develop-
See page 22
See page 22
Robert Seaman School kindergarters enjoyed a pizza lunch provided by the PTA on September 15th.
Capital projects reviewed by Jericho Board BY RIKKI N. MASSAND At the Thursday, September 28 Jericho Board of Education meeting, recognition of the district’s frugal financial operations and future spending plans spread from an external audit firm as well as comments from School Board President William Ferro. He was proud to announce the big picture, reminding residents that Jericho Public Schools, over the past three fiscal years, is the only district on Long Island that has not
exceeded the New York State 2% property tax cap threshold. “This is pretty incredible that we’re the only district on Long Island not having done it for three years in a row and to not have cut any services or programs for the kids. We can see the type of auditing and controls that we have and the great work our administration does,” Ferro said, bringing about a loud round of applause from parents and faculty. His comment came up after
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