Munsey Park Raises Taxes 3.5%, Waives Tax Cap

Munsey Park residents will see a slightly higher tax bill this year after the Village Board of Trustees voted to raise taxes by 3.5%, setting a tentative tax levy of $1,414,927. The board made the decision at its Wednesday, March 11 meeting, voting to waive its tax cap for the first time since 2020.

Mayor Lawrence Ceriello pointed to a drop in village revenue as the driving force behind the increase. Ticket revenue has fallen off, he said, largely because Nassau County Police have not issued enough citations within the village. Fewer building permits and lower mortgage tax collections have added to the shortfall.

Even so, Ceriello offered some perspective on the longer arc. Over the past 13 years, Munsey Park has averaged a tax increase of just 1.3% annually, well below the average inflation rate of 2.88% over the same period. The village has kept its tax base unusually lean, which is part of what makes any adjustment harder to absorb.

“This year’s a little bit different. We struggled with the draft budget,” Ceriello said. “It’s very hard for us to move the needle because our taxes are so low.”

On a more upbeat note, the board unanimously approved a $115,000 grant from Nassau County for sidewalk improvements throughout the village.

The meeting also brought a warm moment when members of the Munsey Park Women’s Club arrived to present gifts intended for Waldman Memorial Park. Member Colleen Sharkey described the donation as a three-part gift to the community.

Two items arrived at the meeting: a wooden tic-tac-toe board and a magnifying glass station designed for young children. A third piece, still in planning, would feature an infographic board with educational content about Mallard ducks, American Bullfrogs and Red Eared Slider Turtles, complete with a mock shell children can touch.

The Women’s Club president, Grace Miceli, expressed flexibility on where the pieces would be installed. “We’re indifferent to where it’s put,” Miceli said, agreeing that a safe location should be the priority.

Not everyone was without concern. Resident Holly Wilson asked the board to keep the installations away from the pond in the park. “It’s happened to all of us as moms. We’ve turned our backs, and our kids went in a different direction,” Wilson said, urging careful thought about placement.

Scott Arenare, whose property borders the park, offered a broader caution about altering the space. “I think the park in its natural setting is a really special spot, and I would be careful about changing that,” he said. “People are very protective of the park.”

The board heard both concerns without dismissing the Women’s Club’s gesture. The placement question will likely get more attention before anything is permanently installed.

The trustees also extended a moratorium on in-ground pools, hot tubs and spas for another three months. Ceriello said the extension gives the board time to work on updating village code to clarify required setback distances from property lines. The effort follows a neighbor dispute that surfaced a few months ago and exposed a gap in the existing rules.

Munsey Park is a small incorporated village in Nassau County with a relatively modest budget and a tight-knit feel. Its tax levy, even at the newly approved rate, remains comparatively low. The board appears to be betting that residents will understand the need for a correction after more than a decade of below-inflation increases.

Whether the revenue picture improves will depend partly on factors outside the village’s direct control, including how consistently Nassau County Police enforce local ordinances. For now, the board is moving ahead with a budget that reflects real constraints and a community that still seems to care deeply about how its public spaces look and feel.