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Schools float $136.4M plan
Creditors ask for dismissal of diocese bankruptcy
Taxes in 2023-24 budget would rise $266 per household
By DANIEl oFFNER doffner@liherald.com
After two and a half years of attempts to negotiate a settlement in the Diocese of Rockville Centre’s bankruptcy case, lawyers representing more than 600 people who filed claims of sexual abuse against the diocese — known as the Committee of Unsecured Creditors — have requested that the case be dismissed, given the unlikelihood of reaching a consensus on a reorganization plan. Represented by the law fir m Pachulski, Stang, 6XQGD\ $SULO Bill Kelly/Herald Ziehl and Jones, the com 30 FIRst AssIstANt ChIEF-ElECt Tony Rugolo, left, Fire Chief-elect mittee stated in a motion Scott Mohr and Second Assistant Chief-elect Patrick Healey celebrate filed in bankruptcy court that the diocese has been their new appointments. unable to propose a plan that the committee can agree to. “The Committee moved to dismiss the bankruptcy because the Diocese abdicated its responsibility as a fiduciary to all creditors,” committee Chairman Richard Tollner stated at the vacant La-Z-Boy store By DANIEl oFFNER ed in a release, “and is at Sunrise Highway and North doffner@liherald.com more interested in protectCentre Avenue in February 2022. ing its enterprise than fairJames Avondet will be stepMayor Francis Murray said ly compensating its vicping down as chief of the Rock- at a village board meeting on tims.” ville Centre Volunteer Fire April 3 that as Avondet’s term In January, the diocese Department, following his sec- comes to an end, Murray wantfiled a plan without the ond one-year term. ed to thank him for his years of support of the committee, Avondet, a member of the dedicated service to the village. proposing a contribution department for the past 46 years, “He exemplifies all that is of $11.1 million from its played an instrumental role good about our Rockville Centre parishes and affiliates, when firefighters quelled the Fire Department,” Murray said. which Committee attorenormous tanker fire that eruptContinued on page 10 neys have stated is a mini-
Molloy College is now Molloy University. 23(1 +286(
Fire chiefs take office
As Avondet departs, Mohr, Rugolo and Healey win department election
Continued on page 8
tom third on Long Island of tax increases.” If approved by voters next The Rockville Centre school month, the proposed budget district is proposing a $136.4 would increase overall spendmillion budget for the 2023-24 ing by 5.74 percent, or $7.4 milschool year, which would lion. It includes $78.8 million for increase school taxes by an esti- instruction, $31.2 million for mated $266 per homeowner next teacher and employee benefits, $13.2 million in year, based on the administrative most recent inforcosts, $5.1 million mation provided by for transportation, the Nassau County and $190,950 for assessor’s office. community servicMany factors es. contribute to how State and foundamuch a homeowner tion aid, the latter pays in taxes every based on a formula year. The current designed to help proassessed value of vide more money to the average home in schools with highRVC is $1.12 million, needs students, are according to the RoBERt expected to increase Department of by 17.8 percent, or Assessment, which BARtEls $19.3 million in school officials have Assistant total. The hike in indicated has not Superintendent state aid comes as yet provided the of Business part of Gov. Kathy average valuation Hochul’s proposed for the next school executive budget, year. The tax levy is projected to which would increase funding increase by 1.99 percent, well for public school districts below the district’s state-man- across the state by $3.1 billion date cap of 2.21 percent, to just in 2023-24. To help fund capital projects, under $103.9 million. including roof repairs and a Robert Bartels, assistant new artificial-turf field at South superintendent of business, Side Middle School, the district said in a presentation on April 4 that according to a recent plans to use $4.3 million of its report by Newsday, the average fund balance, to reduce the tax levy increase for schools on impact on taxpayers. The budget also includes the addition of Long Island next year is estisix new sports teams and mated to be about 2.2 percent. upgraded locker rooms at South “We are well under that,” Bartels said. “We are in the botContinued on page 24
By DANIEl oFFNER doffner@liherald.com
W
e are in the bottom third on Long Island of tax increases.