Village Residents, Trustees Discuss Overriding Cap

Monday's public hearing that by the Patchogue Village Board of Trustees to possibly override the state-imposed two-percent tax cap drew opposition and skepticism from residents in attendance.

Patchogue Village Mayor Paul Pontieri and Village Treasurer Ronald Krawczyk said at the meeting that the Village has no intention to exceed the cap, but that having the option safeguards the Village from unpredictable expenses.

"I think we're going to stay within the two percent," Krawczyk said. However, he noted that if there's a problem with the calculation of the budget due to the law's ambiguity, those mistakes can affect the Village in the next year's budget should they have chosen to remain under the cap's confines.

Resident Josephine Miller said during the public comment section that she does not feel the Village will stay within the cap limits.

"And when the authority is there to go above the two percent tax cap, chances are that taxes will be raised," Miller said. "When we have unpredictable expenses, we cannot go to our employer and say, 'I need more money'."

Resident Judy Pepenella said that while she understands how the unfunded mandates the Village has to meet makes the cap a challenge, she wants the Village to view the cap as a challenge to beat.

"I would personally like to be able to turn around and say 'my Village did it," Pepenella said.

Resident Pamela Barr asked if voting to break it this year means that it will go on in perpetuity, which Pontieri cleared up saying the Village will face and vote on this issue every year.

Trustees Jack Krieger, Lori Devlin, Tom Ferb, Joseph Keyes and William Hilton all voted in favor of the option to Gerard Crean's sole vote against.

Crean told Patch Wednesday that from his standpoint he believes the Village would be able to easily draft a budget that would be comfortably below the two percent increase.

"We were in a very good position to set an example for the entire state of New York and other local levels of government that it can be done," Crean said.

The Patchogue Village Budget Hearing where the budget will be presented and possibly be voted on will take place Tuesday, April 17 at 6 p.m. in .