Hopefully, Southampton Village residents have read the saga of previous village budgets exceeding the state-mandated 2 percent cap on tax levy increases. This malfeasance occurred during the Epley administration years, but the present administration should not use a legal loophole to perpetuate defrauding the village taxpayers of $1.2 million.
Where would the village find the money to reimburse the taxpayers? The Southampton Village budget is $33 million. Sag Harbor provides the same village services — on a budget of $13 million.
There is obviously an enormous amount of fat in the budget. Cut the fat, use the money to reimburse the defrauded taxpayers. This is a moral obligation.
David Rung
Southampton Village
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