Village board to vote on proposed budget increasing taxes by 1.78%

The Village of Amityville board of trustees is expected to vote Monday on a proposed budget that would raise taxes by 1.78%.

The village’s tentative 2020-2021 budget grows from $16.39 million to $16.99 million, and would raise the tax rate from $35.89 per $100 of assessed value to $36.53.  Homeowners with houses worth about $401,525 would see an annual increase in their taxes from $3,400 to $3,461.

The largest departmental increases in the proposed spending plan are for the police department, which jumps from $7.52 million to $8.02 million, and for the public works department, which rises from $3.56 million to $3.71 million.

The police department budget had been set at $7.18 million when the board passed the annual budget last year, but was increased by $400,000 due to a payout to Chief Glenn Slack, who retired in December. The $506,000 increase for next year’s budget reflects payouts for two more retirements, and the hiring of 2.5 new officers, said village Clerk-Treasurer Catherine Murdock. The public works department increase is due to the purchase of a “much needed” dump truck, she said.

The greatest decreases in the proposed budget are in the fire department and capital projects portions. The fire department drops from $1.17 million to $1.01 million,and capital projects falls from $134,277 to $32,247. Murdock said the latter is because the village decided to use that money toward retirement payouts to stay below the tax cap.

The village also is taking on nearly $139,000 more in debt in the new year. Murdock said this was due to $2 million in bonding the village undertook in the current fiscal year for road paving.

The board vote is expected to be held Monday at 7:30 p.m. via teleconference. Residents can watch the proceedings by using this Zoom link: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85810685121?pwd=Q21YVlJ6MWNqdm5Ta05LSk0zYldaZz09 and the phone number is 1-929-205-6099. The meeting ID is 858 1068 5121 with the password 11701.

Those watching by computer can ask questions via the online chat. Those listening in by phone should email their questions in advance to Mayor@amityville.com, with the subject line “Monday’s Meeting.”

By Denise M. Bonilla

denise.bonilla@newsday.comdenisebonilla

Denise Bonilla has worked at Newsday since 2003 and covers the Town of Babylon, including the villages of Lindenhurst and Amityville.