Babylon, Amityville villages holding public hearings on their proposed budgets
Babylon’s proposed $11.5 million budget increases 4.23% over last year while Amityville’s $18.95 million tentative budget increases by 2.65% over last year. Credit: T.C. McCarthy
Babylon and Amityville villages are each holding public hearings Monday night on proposed budgets that would raise taxes, but the amounts vary greatly.
Babylon officials said under their 2022-2023 budget the tax hike is a $6 increase for the average home to $1,571. Amityville officials said their budget isn’t finalized, but as of Friday the increase would be nearly $71 for the average home to $3,631. Both villages’ proposed budgets stay under the tax cap.
Babylon’s proposed $11.5 million budget increases 4.23% over last year. The village projects revenue to increase from $330,000 to $450,000 for marina dock fees and $120,000 to $145,000 for parking lot fees. Treasurer Andrew Reichel said this is because the village is considering raising dock and parking fees next year.
For expenses, Babylon is anticipating an increase in code enforcement from $228,000 to $350,000 for two new hires, and refuse and garbage to increase from $700,000 to $855,000 for two new hires.
“We tried to do our best to keep everything as low as we could,” Reichel said.
Amityville’s $18.95 million tentative budget increases by 2.65% over last year, with projected revenue increases of nearly $605,000 in administration and more than $435,000 in shared services. The village also anticipates a more than $177,000 reduction in debt service.
The largest expense hikes would be in public works, which would increase by more than $271,000 and shared services, such as tax certiorari settlements and unemployment insurance, which would increase by more than $180,000. Amityville would also spend $150,000 on capital projects. The police department, which makes up nearly half the budget at $9.35 million, would decrease by more than $29,000. The fire department would also see a decrease, of more than $24,000.
The Babylon hearing will be held at 7 p.m. at Village Hall, 153 W. Main St. The Amityville hearing will be held at 7 p.m. at Village Hall, 21 Ireland Place.
Denise Bonilla has worked at Newsday since 2003 and covers the Town of Babylon, including the villages of Lindenhurst and Amityville.
