Oyster Bay Town Board Approves 2017 Budget With 11.5 Percent Increase in Tax Levy

The Town of Oyster Bay recently voted to pass the 2017 budget with an 11.5 percent increase in the property tax levy.

Originally, the $284.1 million budget proposed by Town Supervisor John Venditto only brought the tax levy up by 2.3 percent -- which was within the tax cap.

However, the board claimed the tax cap piercing levy, which is expected to raise $24.1 million, is needed in order to help fix the town's financial problem after spending a lot of money on infrastructure in past years without raising taxes, Venditto told Newsday.

The board voted 6 to 1, with only Councilman Joseph Pinto voting against it, to approve the budget which would add an extra $172 to local homeowners' yearly tax bills, Newsday reports.

Reclaim New York, a non-profit which works towards "government reform and accountability" expressed their disagreement with the increase in the tax levy, claiming that town officials put "themselves before their constituents," according to a statement released by the group.

“People simply can’t afford to pay for the Town’s continued scandals, wasteful spending, and total lack of planning," the statement reads. "They need transparency and accountability now, not the pattern of deception they’re getting from officials who didn’t even want to show how they spend taxpayer dollars.”