Islip Town officials reject capital budget

In decisions that town officials say could threaten Islip's bond rating, town board members voted Tuesday to reject next year's $17.3 million capital budget and postpone voting on the $121 million operating budget.

The moves left Democratic and Republican council members accusing each party of playing politics with town finances.

Democratic Supervisor Phil Nolan, who is awaiting results of last week's election in which he trailed GOP challenger Tom Croci, cast the deciding "no" on the capital budget, which his administration prepared.

Republican council members Steven Flotteron and Trish Bergin Weichbrodt opposed the capital budget. Democrats Gene Parrington and John Edwards voted to pass the budget. The vote to table the operating budget went along party lines, 3-2.

Nolan said his votes were intended to let Republicans, who reclaimed control of the board in the elections, amend the budget.

"Since they are going to be here, I thought it was important to let their predisposition have extra gravity," he said.

Flotteron said he hasn't submitted an amendment to the budgets because he doesn't trust the budgets' accuracy. He also said he won't submit a resolution about the operating budget or vote to pass it because he wants to question each department head and the town comptroller about each budget line item during a public meeting. "I want an open process," he said.

Another board meeting to vote on the budget will be held this week, Nolan said.

If no decision is made by Nov. 20, the proposed operating budget will become the town's default budget, which could hurt the town's bond rating, he said.