Brookhaven OKs $317M budget that boosts taxes, restores pandemic job cuts

Brookhaven officials have approved a $316.8 million budget for next year that raises taxes 1.89% and restores three dozen jobs trimmed to cut costs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Town officials have said the budget will help restart or reopen senior citizens programs and recreation centers closed last year amid a wave of precautions taken in the early months of the pandemic.

The town board voted 7-0 on Thursday to approve the operating budget and 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.

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

Last year, Brookhaven left more than 50 vacant jobs unfilled amid a projected $13.9 million revenue loss because of the pandemic. The budget restores 36 virus-related job cuts. It also will lead to the resumption and reopening, perhaps as soon as January, of senior citizens programs and recreational facilities, officials have said.

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

Councilman Jonathan Kornreich, the town board’s lone Democrat, said the budget also includes money for a variety of projects to improve parks and restore historic buildings. He cited several in his North Shore district, including historic preservation of houses in Setauket and Port Jefferson Station.

Kornreich said there’s also close to $200,000 to upgrade a town park at the southeast corner of routes 347 and 112 in Port Jefferson Station, a site occupied by an antique train that serves as a community landmark.

"That park is really important to the identity of the Port Jefferson Station community," Kornreich said. "Now we’re getting ready to put up some beautiful fencing, [and] there’s going to be a stage. ... It’s really going to be a great park for the people there."

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.