Brookhaven budget plan contains staff cuts

Brookhaven Supervisor Mark Lesko has proposed a 2012 budget that would hold the line on town taxes by laying off several part-time employees and trimming the salaries of appointed board members.

The $260 million spending plan, if approved, would allow Lesko to freeze town taxes for a third consecutive year. But the level tax rate would not come without cost, as declining town revenue forces the town to make cuts, Lesko said.

The town would lay off all eight of its part-time park rangers under the spending plan. The budget for seasonal employees would take a $200,000 cut, which would result in reduced hours and possibly layoffs for part-time workers.

Members of appointed boards, such as the planning board, would see a 50 percent pay cut. For planning board members, that means salaries would drop from $25,000 to $12,500.

The town would also take $14.6 million from its surplus to make budget, Lesko said.

"This was a very challenging budget to compile because revenues continue to plummet and mandated costs continue to rise at an alarming rate," Lesko said, referencing pension and health care costs.

Some Republicans in town immediately criticized the budget. Cecile Forte, who is running against Lesko in November, issued a statement accusing Lesko of "out of control spending" and suggested that the spending plan be subject to an independent audit.

But Lesko defended the proposed budget as prudent. The town will save money by keeping beaches and pools closed an extra few weeks -- to July 4 -- and reducing spending on youth programs by $500,000, he said.

Two part-time department managers will also be laid off, but they will likely be rehired as "consultants," Lesko said.

The owner of a typical single-family home in Brookhaven would pay $630.33 in town taxes -- including highway, street lighting and refuse taxes -- next year under Lesko's spending plan.

The town board is expected to discuss the budget publicly at a meeting on Monday. A public hearing is scheduled for Nov. 10, and the board could vote on the budget Nov. 17.

State law requires the town to pass a budget by Nov. 20.