Bellone To Hold Two Community Meetings Next Week Regarding Shared Services Plan

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone will hold two community meetings on the East End next week to solicit feedback from residents on a tax savings plan.

The meetings will focus on local efforts to enforce Governor Andrew Cuomo’s new initiative to reduce property taxes, a plan that requires that counties and local governments trim costs by combining overlapping services. According to a press release, the upcoming meetings will provide attendees with a basic explanation of what the state law entails, and review the county’s plans for implementing changes. Attendees can also ask questions and make comments.

“Sharing services is about collaboration with all levels of government so that we can identify ways to achieve long-term savings, streamline bureaucracy and reduce the tax burden for our residents,” Mr. Bellone said in the release. “I believe Suffolk County can be a statewide model on this important measure, and I encourage all residents to attend a meeting in their community.”

Separate meetings will be held in East Hampton and Southampton on Monday, July 10. The first begins at 10 a.m. at East Hampton Town Hall, and the second at 6 p.m. at Southampton Town Hall.

Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman has been in discussions with county officials regarding the plan, and he noted that municipalities will be given matching state funds for the shared services that they ultimately provide.

For example, he said that if Southampton Village borrows a $100,000 piece of highway equipment from the town instead of purchasing its own, the town would then theoretically be entitled to receive $100,000 in funding from the state—the amount saved by the village in this instance.

The supervisor declined to name specific services that could be shared with neighboring East Hampton Town or any of the local villages.

“Everything is on the table,” Mr. Schneiderman said. “[The county is] assembling a database of available equipment and services. Then we can see where savings can be achieved.”

As part of the statewide initiative signed into law earlier this year, county, town and village officials must vote on a plan that suggests new inter-municipal partnerships. Designed to save taxpayers money through efficient and coordinated shared services, the new law requires that the county submit a draft plan to the Suffolk County Legislature by August 1. Once recommendations are received and modifications made, the Suffolk Shared Services Panel must vote on the plan prior to September 15, according to Mr. Bellone’s office. In addition to the county executive, the plan includes all of Suffolk’s supervisors and village mayors.

If the plan is approved, Suffolk County municipalities would be able to receive one-time matching funds from Albany. Local savings from the shared services would be eligible for matching funds starting on January 1, 2018.