Brookhaven Passes Three Propositions

Candidates weren't the only item on the menu for Brookhaven residents for Election Day.

Residents also voted yes on all three financial propositions that were on the ballot.

"The biggest winners on election day were the taxpayers of the Town of Brookhaven, who will be forever protected by huge tax increases and out of control spending," said Supervisor Mark Lesko.

"On Election Day the voters of Brookhaven supported measures to promote the long-term fiscal health of the Town," added Councilman Dan Panico, "The tax cap proposition that I sponsored was a movement started by my late friend Councilman Keith Romaine, and I am pleased that voters supported it by over 83 percent, the highest percentage of all three proposals."

According to the Suffolk County Board of Elections, the unofficial election results for the three fiscal propositions are as follows:

Proposition 1: A Debt Management Plan, which limits new debt so that total debt service does not exceed 15% of revenues or expenditures, whichever is less. Currently, the Town's debt service is 24% of expenditures, which is a significant strain on the Town's budget.    Yes: 67,720 votes - 75%     No: 23,010 votes  - 25%

Proposition 2: A Property Tax Cap, which will cap yearly increases in the property tax rate to no more than 4% in the Town-wide General Whole Town Fund and Part Town Fund.    Yes: 77,639 votes  - 83%    No:  15,532 votes - 17%

Proposition 3: A Spending Cap, which will limit the yearly increases in the Town-wide General Whole Town Fund by an amount not greater than the three-year average of revenue plus the three year average population growth rate.     Yes: 73,334  votes - 80%   No:  18,014 votes - 20%