__________________ Merrick _________________
CommuNITy uPDaTE Infections as of may 7
8,160
Infections as of may 2 8,142
HERALD Three candidates vie in N. merrick
18/21 itc FG Demi Condensed
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Runners hit the streets
may 13 - 19, 2021
Assembly passes public water measure legislation in the Senate that aims to create a Nassau County Water Authority. When Claudia Borecky, coThe Assembly quickly passed director of the Merrick-based the legislation before May 1, but Long Island Clean Air, Water the rate hike has likely already and Soil, read over the State been passed to customers. The 26 Assembly’s bill that creates a to 30 percent increase may path for a public appear on ratepaywater authority, ers’ next bill. she knew it might While the not pan out, she Assembly bill prosaid. poses capping both “I didn’t think it future rate increaswas going to be es and rates for possible,” Borecky ClauDIa BoRECky expenses that have said, explaining Co-director, Long already been that the bill’s goal the SenIsland Clean Air, Water incurred, to cap rate increasate bill differs in es at two percent and Soil that it aims to elimmay be unconstituinate a special frantional. “Those rates were deter- chise tax the private company is mined years ago. They were obligated to pay. NYAW passes postponing payments — they’re those additional costs down to its for costs already incurred by customers, creating an unequal New York American Water.” burden that has been highlightThus, the years-long battle to ed by both critics and the compaform a municipal water provider ny’s representatives. to replace NYAW — which has The Assembly bill would form been repeatedly criticized for its a North and South Shore Water high rates — continues. Advo- Authority, which Borecky also cates, including CAWS members, criticized over the way it would gathered at the Theodore Roos- represent ratepayers. She said it evelt Executive and Legislative would be too “North Shore-cenBuilding in Mineola on April 26 tric,” with six representatives to decry a fast-approaching rate from the North Shore and four hike on May 1 and to call on the Assembly to pass corresponding Continued on page 11
By aNDREW GaRCIa agarcia@liherald.com
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Courtesy Merrick School District
The wonders of a new season A student at Levy-Lakeside Elementary School in Merrick gently prepared to release a butterfly after learning about its life cycle. More photos, story, Page 10.
At 1.45%, Central tax levy increase is the lowest in years By aNDREW GaRCIa agarcia@liherald.com
Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District administrators held a public hearing on the 2021-22 district budget on May 5, the first in-person school board meeting held by the district since last year. Residents will vote on the budget next Tuesday. The district will present voters with a $170 million spending plan that comes with a 1.45 per-
cent increase in the tax levy — the total amount in taxes that will be collected from all district taxpayers. That’s the lowest increase in the past 10 years of district budgets, with the past four above 2 percent. Despite the smaller increase, Bellmore-Merrick is maintaining all student programs. The question remains, however, just how different hallways and classrooms will look after the district faced a flurry of unprecedented
circumstances and changes this school year. As of now, masks are still required, and plastic barriers still line students’ and teachers’ desks, among other sanitary requirements. One parent at the meeting said the barriers should be taken down, citing student complaints. “We are currently looking at our classrooms — we know that Continued on page 9
thought we had our last rally.