Town of Islip's Proposed 2017 Budget Includes 9.9 Percent Tax Increase

The Town of Islip recently held a budget presentation to discuss the 2017 proposed budget, which would include a 9.9 percent tax increase.

The proposed budget would increase to $223.5 million, up 1.05 percent from last year's $221.17 million budget and bring the town's tax cap to 0.68 percent.

Under the new budget, the town's residents will be paying an additional $48 in taxes per household.

“It was a difficult budget with the backdrop of the 0.68 percent,” Town Comptroller Joseph Ludwig, according to Newsday. “The modest tax increase that we have proposed here today helps us get back on that path of being in better financial shape.”

Doug Kellogg, Communications Director for Reclaim New York, said in a statement that the tax increase would "break the backs" of local families that are already struggling to make ends meet.

"It’s time the town listen to the response of citizens who simply can’t afford higher taxes, and put serving the public before serving themselves," he said. "That means making their spending public, rather than forcing citizens and Reclaim New York to file multiple records requests, and lawsuits, just to see how taxpayer money is being spent.”

A public hearing on the tax cap will take place during the next board meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 18 starting at 2 p.m. at Town Hall in Islip.

The official budget vote will take place on Thursday, Nov. 10 starting at 10:30 a.m.