Southampton Town Supervisor Presents 2020 Budget That Would Decrease Property Taxes

Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman presented a $105.5 million budget proposal for 2020 on Thursday, which represents a nearly 6-percent reduction in the property tax rate: the largest cut he said he has seen in his years of putting together budgets for municipalities.

The current tax rate is $1.38 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, and Mr. Schneiderman is proposing to drop it to $1.3 per $1,000, amounting to a 5.80 percent drop.

The proposed 2020 budget of $105,525,051, when compared to the current budget of $102,709,239 represents a 2.85-percent spending increase, and the tax levy for 2020, which is proposed to be $69,742,241, is 3.41 percent higher than this year’s tax levy of $67,264,269, staying under the state mandated 2-percent tax levy cap.

“I always try … to keep costs in line to not spend more than we need to, because I think it’s important that maintain our low taxes that we enjoy in the area, so what you will see in this budget is a cost to continue budget,” he said. “I have delivered a number of budgets in my time here as supervisor, and in my earlier incarnation as East Hampton Town supervisor, this is the largest tax rate reduction I have been able to deliver.”

Along with the reduction in the tax rate, Mr. Schneiderman said the budget maintains the current level of services, allows for the typical 2-percent raise and benefits and was adjusted with the anticipation that less money will come in from certain services offered by the town.

On the latter, Mr. Schneiderman said less money is coming in from waste management because the demand for recyclables has dropped. He also said the justice court is not bringing in as much money because they are processing significantly less fines and fees.

The budget allows for the creation of three new positions in the town.

Mr. Schneiderman said the Community Preservation Fund allows for the hiring of an environmental analyst.

The town will also be adding two positions in the parks department: a recreation director and someone to work at the parks.

Mr. Schneiderman said many of the park facilities — especially the new Ponquogue Beach facility in Hampton Bays — saw an increase in visitors this year.

“I’m reluctant to add staff unless it’s warranted,” he said.

Hampton Bays will also see quite a bit of money from the budget put toward what Mr. Schneiderman described as necessary projects.

Some of the money will go toward the Hampton Bays Senior Center acquisition, projects with the Hampton Bays Water District, the construction of a new Southampton Ambulance facility and water quality projects.

In an effort to address the issue of property assessments, Mr. Schneiderman said the board approved a two-year moratorium on assessments. He also said he has reached out to State Senator Kenneth P. Lavalle and State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr. to see if a 2-percent tax cap can be placed on property assessments.

The schedule for adopting the budget is set.

Public hearings on the budget will take place on October 22 at 6 p.m. and November 12 at 1 p.m. — it is set to be voted on by the Town Board on November 20 at 11 a.m.