Southampton Town Passes 2018 Budget

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — The Southampton Town Board passed its $99.4 2018 budget Monday and, according to Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman, it's a budget that continues to reduce the tax rate while making much needed improvements to facilities and infrastructure.

The approved budget remains below the tax cap and maintains a small reduction in the overall tax rate, the supervisor said.

Councilwoman Christine Scalera was the lone "no" vote.

Several amendments were made to the budget including budget increases for several special taxing districts such as the fire and ambulance districts, the CPF water quality program, and a number of salary adjustments, Schneiderman said.

The 2018 budget, Schneiderman said in a release, employs conservative management practices to protect taxpayer’s dollars and to assure the town maintains its strong financial position with credit rating agencies. The budget contains a tax rate reduction for the second straight year, he added.

The budget maintains a healthy fund balance which has grown by 40% in the past 10 years and it reflects the town’s "aggressive approach" to debt reduction, lowering debt by nearly $5 million, a release said.

“The town board worked together to pass this budget,” Schneiderman said. “I want to thank our department heads for holding the line on spending. I also want to thank Comptroller Leonard Marchese and his staff for maintaining conservative budgeting practices.”

The 2018 budget contains funding for all current programs, support for contractual and promotional increases, increases in funding for parks maintenance, increases in funding for SYS capital improvements, one additional full-time code officer and approximately $1 million in “Pay as You Go” funding for capital projects to avoid the costs associated with borrowing, he said.

In addition, the budget also allows for funding for the Ponquogue Beach Pavilion upgrade, the Southampton Town Hall HVAC, road improvements, improvements to the Jackson Avenue facilities, Old Ponquogue bridge improvements, police communications and dispatch upgrades, IT infrastructure and video security, bulkhead projects, improvement to the Shinnecock Commercial Dock, pedestrian safety improvements in Bridgehampton and Parks’ facilities improvement projects, including Ludlam and Good Ground Parks, he said.

“I’m proud to deliver a budget that continues to reduce taxes while maintaining and improving vital services to our residents,” Schneiderman added.