Proposed Brookhaven Town budget to raise taxes 1.89%, restore 36 jobs 

The average Brookhaven Town homeowner would see a 1.89% tax hike next year under a $316.8 million budget proposed by Supervisor Edward P. Romaine.

The spending plan, if adopted in November by the town board, would restore 36 jobs cut last year because of the coronavirus pandemic and reopen senior citizens programs and recreational facilities that were closed for the same reason, officials said.

Taxes on a non-village home assessed at $2,750 would see a tax increase of $10.93, officials said. The average town tax hike for residents of villages would be $3.88. The increases do not exceed the state tax cap, officials said.

"This budget was easier [to prepare] than last year, and I’m sure next year will be easier than this year," Romaine said Thursday during a briefing with reporters. "We try to put together the best budget with the money that we have within the tax cap."

The town board will hold a public hearing on the budget at 5 p.m. on Nov. 4. Town budgets under state law must be enacted by Nov. 20.

Last year, Brookhaven left more than 50 vacant jobs unfilled amid a projected $13.9 million revenue loss because of the pandemic.

Staffing is expected to grow from 815 this year to 851 next year as the town brings back employees for its seniors programs and six recreation centers.

"We‘re still not fully open everywhere, but we do expect to be as of January 2022," said Brookhaven Finance Commissioner Tamara Branson.

The budget would add $1.2 million to the town's landfill reserve fund, raising the fund's total value to $21.2 million, Branson said. The fund is expected to help pay for managing the site in Brookhaven hamlet after the landfill closes in December 2024.

Romaine and Branson said inflation and nationwide delays in the movement of supplies such as wood, asphalt and concrete made it difficult to forecast next year's costs.

But Romaine noted that the state comptroller's office's annual "fiscal stress" report gave Brookhaven a strong score of 3.3 this year, down from 5 the past two years. Fiscal stress scores are based on factors such as cash flow, debt, deficits and surpluses.

Romaine said the budget proposal continues his policy of reducing debt and refraining from using surpluses for ordinary spending.

"It’s a great budget," Romaine said. "There are surpluses in just about all our accounts. It’s the type of thing that will allow this town to go forward."

Town officials also released a $43.7 million capital improvement plan that includes $6.4 million for parks and recreation facility improvements and $14.4 million for infrastructure upgrades at the landfill.

Romaine said the town is using $25.2 million from the federal coronavirus relief program to help pay for 45 capital improvement projects, including stormwater drainage projects and sewer and road improvements.

By Carl MacGowan

carl.macgowan@newsday.comCarlMacGowan

Carl MacGowan is a Long Island native who covers Brookhaven Town after having previously covered Smithtown, Suffolk County courts and numerous spot news and feature stories over his 20-plus year career at Newsday.