Village Board Greenlights Tax Levy Cap Exemption Option

The Babylon Village Board unanimously approved a local law Tuesday night giving officials the option to opt-out of the state mandated tax cap levy if necessary this budget season.

A public hearing held prior to the board's vote, which was conducted during its regular meeting after the hearing, was attended by less than a half dozen residents. None spoke for or against the resolution during the hearing's public comment portion.

According to village counsel Joel Sikowitz, 30 villages in Suffolk County have passed the same legislation.

New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo approved the tax levy cap measure last year. It places a 2 percent or rate of inflation cap, whichever is lower, on a levy increase. A village, as well as county, town or special district, is allowed to exceed the levy cap if at least 60 percent of the members of its governing body vote in favor of a override provision.

The override vote must be held prior to a budget vote, according to the Empire Center for New York State Policy. For villages, that requires a village board vote. For school districts, it would be a taxpayer vote.

Lindenhurst Village also opted for the override provision but its recently adopted budget came in under the cap.

Without the law municipalities face severe financial penalties if they fail to adhere to the tax cap limit.

“This is a necessary necessity,” said Babylon Mayor Ralph Scordino prior to the board vote. “”We don’t know as yet what our [budget] costs will be but we do know that several costs are rising, such as healthcare and fuel.”

One village resident, who missed the public hearing’s comment portion, broached the topic during the regular meeting. She recommended that officials try their best to meet the 2 percent tax levy cap requirement as cost-of-living expenses are spiraling for homeowners and retirees.

“I’m just suggesting that you take a precautionary approach toward spending. I believe in this tax cap as taxes have been rising for so long in New York and it’s hard for our children to stay on Long Island,” noted the Babylon retiree.

Scordino assured her that the board would do all it can to keep taxes as low as possible.

“My parents live here and we strive to keep the taxes as reasonable as possible,” he said. Noting the taxes on the town and county levels, he added that he felt the current village tax cost provides homeowners with “a good bang for our buck.”

“Rest assure we’ll keep the taxes as low as possible,” he added.