Oyster Bay 2020 Budget Plan: Keep Property Tax Freeze, Pay Debts

OYSTER BAY, NY — Officials have unveiled the proposed 2020 budget for the Town of Oyster Bay, calling for a freeze on property taxes for the second consecutive year.

Joseph Saladino, the town supervisor, on Monday unveiled his plan, highlighting that unlike other towns, Oyster Bay's budget calls for keeping property tax cuts first passed in 2018. That means nearly $4 million will stay in the pockets of residents, he said, rather than the government's coffers.

Saldino's proposed budget also calls for increasing spending by less than 2 percent. Oyster Bay will see a 1.9 percent increase in costs, but officials stressed that taxes will not go up to offset them. The cost hikes stem from worker contract obligations, well as changes in the international commodities market that have driven up the cost to recycle and haul materials, Saladino's office said in a news release.

"I am proud of the many milestones this administration has reached in returning fiscal stability to the Town of Oyster Bay," Saladino said. "In partnership with the Town Board, we have instilled fiscal discipline that has led to responsible budgeting practices for the future of our Town. We have reduced significant amounts of debt while cutting property taxes and making smart investments in our roadways. "

The 2020 budget also aims to continue paying down debts used to fund capital projects, officials said. In 2017, Saladino suspended borrowing for such projects for the first time in the town's history. As such, the town is on track to reduce its overall debt by $160 million by 2020 and $190 million by 2021.

When it comes to government workers, Saladino plans to do more with less.

The budget includes $9 million in savings compared to 2016 due to eliminating certain positions. The workforce is currently at its lowest level in decades, his office said, reducing both salary and pension costs.

The budget comes after Thomas DiNapoli, the New York state comptroller, identified the Town of Oyster Bay as one of 12 municipalities in the state facing "significant" fiscal stress.

The fiscal stress monitoring system uses data from
yearly financial reports submitted to the office by local governments. With a fiscal stress score of 70.0, Oyster Bay ranked as the ninth most stressed municipality, sandwiched between the village of Islandia at 70.8 and Westchester County at 69.6.

Municipalities make the list if they have a score of 65 or higher. Not all receive a score though, as some don't submit financial reports or submit incomplete data.

In Nassau County, the city of Long Beach and the county itself were deemed financially stressed.

Saladino and the town board must still approve the proposal. Saladino plans to present his plan to the town board this week. The board will vote to make it a draft budget, at which point it will be made available to the public. Budget hearings are then planned in mid-October.