Asharoken proposal would allow tax cap to be pierced

Asharoken officials will hold a public hearing on a proposal to authorize the board of trustees to exceed the state cap on its property tax levy — if that step is necessary — for the 2016-17 budget.

State law requires municipalities to hold a vote if they want to exceed the cap before approving a budget with such an increase. Passing an authorization to pierce the cap is a common precaution in Asharoken and other Long Island municipalities as they prepare the following year’s budget.

Local governments that don’t ultimately need to surpass the cap then repeal the law before voting on the final budget.

The difference this year is that the cap is low, 0.12 percent, down from 1.68 percent last year.

“It’s very low,” trustee Mel Ettinger said. “We’re going to do our best to stay beneath it, but I can’t say either way.”

Asharoken’s Police Department, which accounts for about half the village’s budget, has a contract providing for 3 percent raises next year, Mayor Greg Letica said.

Residents will have a chance to weigh in on the proposed law at the next village meeting, which begins at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2.

Asharoken’s fiscal year runs from June 1 to May 31.