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Flower Hill board authorizes referendum on Roslyn Fire District LOSAP increase
Summary
After a presentation from Roslyn Fire District representatives, the Flower Hill Board of Trustees voted to authorize a referendum allowing village residents to decide whether to expand the Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP); board members said the measure would only take effect if voters in participating municipalities approve it.
The Village of Flower Hill Board of Trustees voted on Aug. 3 to authorize a referendum that would allow residents to decide whether to expand the Roslyn Fire District's Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP).
Board members heard a presentation from district representatives explaining that the change would increase the per-month service credit and raise the program's service cap. A presenter told the board the total estimated cost to participating municipalities would be $140,000 per year and that Flower Hill's share would be about $10,298 annually, or “less than $20 per parcel” based on about 519 taxable parcels. The board emphasized it was only authorizing a referendum, not approving funding at this meeting.
Resident David Frenkel urged the board to delay any referendum until independent actuarial information was produced, calling for greater fiscal transparency and questioning long-term legacy costs. Frenkel said in public comment that the proposal would “effectively lock our taxpayers into a legacy compounding pension liability that stretches out 0.5 a century.” The presenter and board members responded that PenFlex would administer the program and that actuarial assumptions and fund earnings (the presenter cited an assumed investment return) affect long-term cost estimates.
A motion to authorize a referendum (to be held 60–90 days after board approval) was made and seconded; the board took a roll-call voice vote and approved putting the question to Flower Hill voters. The mayor said the village would publish documentation on the proposed change on the village website and in the mayor’s newsletter prior to the election.
What happens next: If the referendum passes in all participating municipalities, the change could take effect in 2028 and Flower Hill would need to incorporate the estimated annual cost into its next budget cycle. If residents vote against the measure, there is no change to LOSAP contributions from Flower Hill.
