Town of Huntington Approves $190M Budget That Pierces Tax Cap

The Huntington Town Board approved a $190,011,856 Town budget that pierces the state’s tax cap at a Thursday meeting.

The budget maintains all Town services at current levels, the Town says.

According to the Town, a budget within the tax cap (a tax levy increase of 0.68 percent) would have required cutting and discretionary spending. The arts, youth and social programs would have been cut and services, maintenances and hours at Town facilities would have been reduced.

Supervisor Frank Petrone said the Town has no control over the increased spending, which will cover materials, equipment, utilities, fuel and the state-managed health insurance program.

He also said staying within the tax cap would prevent certain efforts, including the Open Space Bond Act (which expires in June 2018), approving an East Northport Business Improvement District and building a parking structure in Huntington Village.

“I wish to thank my fellow Board members, who continue to work with me by taking the prudent, fiscally responsible steps that have enabled me to submit this budget; a budget that serves the Town residents well by maintaining the current level of services and increasing the tax levy only by that amount required to fund Federal and State mandated expenses, which are wholly outside the control of the Town Board,” Town Supervisor Frank Petrone said in a press release.

The tax levy is projected to increase by $3.2 million to $117.7 million, a 2.85 percent raise, which is about $2.2 million above the growth that would have been allowed under the 0.68 percent state tax cap figure, the Town says.