Town Passes 2011 Budget

The Southampton Town Council passed its amended 2011 budget Friday, but not without lengthy discussion among board members and an earful from local residents on proposed cuts to senior services. 

The adopted budget is $79.8 million, down from the preliminary budget of $82.2 million with a tax rate of 1.2 percent.  The amended budget represents a reduction in the town tax rate, cuts in spending, and the addition of $500,000 in fund balance.  The budget amendments, introduced by council members Nancy Graboski, Chris Nuzzi and Jim Malone, also continue a hiring freeze, establish an independent internal auditor, and preserve programs in youth and senior services. 

Supervisor Anna Throne- Holst's preliminary budget included a $2.6 million tax increase, something she said would amount to approximately $20 per household and would be necessary to help pay down the town's $5 million debt. 

Board members disagreed on whether the town should establish reserves with a 20 percent fund balance.  Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst and Councilwoman Bridget Flemming insisted that a fund balance would protect the town from future financial difficulties. 

"We have a positive balance in our general fund, but we do not have the cash on hand that people think we do," Flemming said.  "The general fund is owed money by the other funds that are in deficit."

Councilman Chris Nuzzi challenged the notion of a 20 percent fund balance calling it a "lofty goal" and saying the town shouldn't be raising taxes on its residents for this purpose.  "You say it has no effect on the taxpayers, but you're taxing them to protect them," he said.

"We're not talking about adding to the tax burden," Throne-Holst contended.  "This is protecting the taxpayer going forward . . . in order to avoid what we've gone through here for the past two years.  It's the safest way to move forward as we recover." 

Nuzzi, Graboski and Malone all voted against establishing a 20 percent fund balance.  Graboski agreed with creating a fun balance but said that raising taxes for such a fund would not be a good idea in these difficult economic times.

The town board also added $25,000 to the food budget for the senior services program, a program that provides daily, low-cost lunches at all three senior centers as well as meals on wheels to homebound seniors.  All the cooking for this program is done at the Hampton Bays Senior Center.  The preliminary budget had proposed cuts to this program.

The meeting room was filled with seniors and supporters of the town's senior services program, which many had feared was facing major cuts in the new budget.  There were two retirements in the senior services department this year, which created two vacant positions.  Due to the town's hiring freeze, these positions were not expected to be re-filled. However, one of the positions is now expected to be filled.

Pam Giacoia, director of senior services for the town, said she cannot successfully operate the department if any more money is cut from the budget.  "It's a struggle and you have to hear it from me," she told the town board, explaining that there have been cuts to the kitchen staff and bus drivers over the years.  "I cannot afford another cut in transportation," she said and added that her staff is too small to even allow people to take vacations.

Walter Flaherty, a WWII veteran who frequents the senior center said it gives him a sense of place.  "It's my second family and without them, I'm lost," he said.    

"When I had my stroke, my life began at the senior center," said Barbara Olsen.  "Its' time you stop cutting our little bit of happiness.  You can cut somewhere else.  If you want to, cut yours."