Islip Town Officials Pass $228.8 Million Budget For 2018

TOWN OF ISLIP, NY - The Islip Town Board recently unanimously adopted a $228.8 million operating budget for 2018.

The budget will remain under the state-mandated 2 percent tax with an increase of 1.765 percent or $9.23 per household annually.

The 2018 budget does not eliminate any services, or programs.

“The operating budget is as lean as the Town can possibly make it without cutting services," Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter said. "The Town of Islip workforce still maintains lower staffing levels than its neighboring towns. The Town continues to do its best to deliver services with the fewest possible employees, which means that everyone has to work harder. I am most grateful that our Town employees have risen to the challenge."

While the budget will not require any layoffs, Carpenter said that overtime costs can increase which means the Town will have to find a balance and take into account the amount of employees needed.

In addition to the operating budget, the Town voted to approve a preliminary $36 million capital budget, which is used to fund long-term improvements to Town facilities in need of rehabilitation, or those projects that are in disrepair, such as roads, bulkheading, town recreation and senior center.

The budget passed by a 3-2 vote, with members Trish Bergin Weichbrodt and Mary Kate Mullen voting against it, according to a report in Newsday.

“The capital spending plan was simply too large,” Bergin told Newsday. “I’d like to see the borrowing plan lowered.”

A subsequent bond approval vote would take place requiring at least a 4-5 vote before the money could be spent.

As the Supervisor said during the budget hearing, “as an elected official I have a responsibility to take care of the town’s infrastructure…the taxpayer’s assets, a responsibility I take most seriously.”

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