Southampton Supervisor To Submit Tentative 2018 Budget Thursday

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman is set to submit the tentative 2018 budget.

The supervisor will submit the budget at 10 a.m. Thursday in the Southampton Town Hall board room.

Schneiderman said he is "pleased" with the tentative budget, which totals just under $100 million, "maintains services, and reduces taxes by around 1 percent. It's the second tax cut since I've been in office; it's two in a row," he said.

The tentative budget "reduces overall debt and focuses on public safety." Only one new position, a code enforcement officer, was added; funds are allocated to repair the town's infrastructure, Schneiderman said.

"It's pretty much a continuation of current practices. We're not piercing the tax cap," he said.

The greatest spending increase is reflected in nearly $1 million in health care and insurance costs, Schneiderman said.

The supervisor said he, too, would consider signing on to Suffolk County's health insurance plan. The idea was discussed by Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell at this week's town board work session; state legislation would be necessary to move forward.

If green lighted, the county plan "could mean big savings, millions of dollars, over time," Schneiderman said.

He added he'd want to be sure the switch was "apples for apples, with the same level of insurance. But the county's program is like the Cadillac program, so it might even be better health care, for less," he said.