Islip board passes capital budget

The Town of Islip's capital budget for 2016 -- more than twice the current year's at $44.6 million -- was adopted at a town board meeting Tuesday by a slight margin of 3-2.

The spending plan includes $11 million for a new Federal Inspection Services Customs facility at Long Island MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma, which would allow for international flights at the cash-strapped hub, and $6.5 million for Exchange Ambulance of the Islips, a special district, to rehabilitate its infrastructure. More than $3 million will go toward road drainage and dredging improvements.

Supervisor Angie Carpenter and Councilmen John C. Cochrane Jr. and Steven J. Flotteron voted in favor of the capital budget. Councilman Anthony Senft, the board's sole Conservative Party member and Suffolk County District Court judge-elect, and Councilwoman Trish Bergin Weichbrodt dissented.

Neither Bergin Weichbrodt nor Senft explained their votes during the meeting. Bergin Weichbrodt after the meeting declined to comment on her vote or the budget. Senft could not be reached.

In April, the town passed its $21 million capital budget for 2015. Of that, $6.25 million was earmarked for road paving projects. Senft and Bergin Weichbrodt voted against that budget. Senft said at the time that the town should be "more specific" in the way it plans to spend money to preclude bonding that will affect future generations of taxpayers.

Carpenter said next year's 20-page plan "is larger than last year's budget mainly because of the projects at the airport." She added, "We've gotten some commitments already for grant funding so the total cost of the project is reflected in the budget."

Amounts for each project are subject to change as the year goes on -- if outside funding becomes available. The budget could also be amended to add or remove projects, depending on a department's readiness and need, Islip Town Comptroller Joseph Ludwig said.

Bond resolutions for each project will require votes from the town board to proceed. A supermajority vote is needed to pass a bond resolution.