Huntington Town's proposed $220M budget for 2023 increases tax levy 2.56%
“My big concern was not cutting town services but also bringing it in under the tax cap which we managed to do,” Huntington Town supervisor Ed Smyth said of his $219,575,260 preliminary operating budget for 2023. Credit: James Carbone
Huntington Town Supervisor Ed Smyth said his nearly $220 million preliminary operating budget for 2023 comes within the state-mandated tax cap despite inflationary pressures across several cost centers.
The budget would increase the tax levy by 2.56%, calls for replacing retiring full-time employees with workers who start at lower salaries and includes mandatory employee contributions for health benefits.
“My big concern was not cutting town services but also bringing it in under the tax cap, which we managed to do,” he said. “But I am open to any suggestions of changes my town board colleagues have if they make sense.”
Included in the $219,575,260 budget is $1 million in projected revenue from new parking meters Smyth hopes to install at various municipal lots within the town.
The operating budget also has a new $14,000 stipend for the town clerk, who serves as a marriage officer. Town Clerk Andrew Raia is paid $75 as an officiant per ceremony. Raia proposed the idea for a stipend instead of collecting cash at ceremonies because, he said, it makes for cleaner transactions and aligns with the town’s no-cash policy. Raia said his office was on track to perform 300 weddings this year.
The stipend will be included in Raia's pension contribution calculations and will relieve him of a personal tax hit he incurred for accepting cash while conducting town business.
“This was not the reason I’m trying to do this in the first place. It’s trying to stay in compliance with the town's no-cash policy,” he said. “I even thought about getting one of those squares [QR code] and then eating the 3% just to make life easier for the residents.”
A subordinate in the clerk’s office also will be eligible for a $4,000 stipend to conduct marriage services if the budget is approved.
Smyth’s 2023 capital budget is $24.32 million. It will fund bulkhead and drainage repair projects.
A public hearing on the budgets will be Thursday. The town board will vote on the budgets on Nov. 17. Both meetings will take place at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 100 Main St.
Deborah Morris is a native Long Islander and covers the town of Huntington.
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