Schneiderman's Tentative 2018 Budget Includes Funding For Infrastructure, Safety

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman delivered his tentative 2018 budget to the town clerk and town board Tuesday — and the budget reduces taxes for the second year in a row, he said.

"The 2018 budget 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 of approximately 1%, a reduction for the second straight year," a release from Schneiderman's office said.

The budget maintains a "healthy" fund balance that has grown by 40% in the past 10 years, he said.

"The tentative budget is also a reflection of the town’s aggressive approach to debt reduction, nearly $5 million next year alone. Another very strong indicator, this year, for the first time in 15 years, the total property valuation has increased across all school districts within the town," the release said.

Schneiderman spoke to Patch about the tentative budget on Wednesday.

“We are making great strides on the financial front,” said Comptroller Leonard Marchese, who credited Schneiderman and the town board.

The 2018 tentative 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, Schneiderman said.

There is also funding for the Ponquogue beach pavilion upgrade, 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, town officials explained.

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

Two public hearings will be held on the budget, one on Tuesday, October 24 at 6 p.m. and the second on Tuesday, November 14 at 1 p.m.

The final adoption of the budget is scheduled for Monday, November 20 at 11 a.m.

Patch photo courtesy Southampton Town.