Mineola, NY - Nassau County Legislator Joseph Scannell (D-Baldwin) and members of the Nassau County Rules Committee approved today, an ordinance to disperse $750,000 from a portion of the Nassau County sales tax revenue to the 64 incorporated villages as part of the 2005 Local Government Assistance Program. Villages receiving revenue include; Freeport and Rockville Centre. The ordinance is expected to be approved by the full legislature on March 21st.

"In the past year alone, we have approved a no tax increase budget and tripled the amount of revenue shared with local villages, said Legislator Scannell. "I am delighted that we can continue to offer our fiscal support and cooperation at a time when the villages really need it," he added.

Until 2001, local villages received no portion of the County's sales tax revenue. In the 2003 budget, the Nassau County Legislature approved $250,000 to the villages and a year later, in the 2004 budget, doubled the amount to $500,000. This year the amount has reached $750,000. The sum is divided by the villages based on population.

According to Legislator Scannell, the 2005 Local Government Assistance Program will be allocating $73,052 in revenue for the Village of Freeport and $40,992 for the Village of Rockville Centre.