Islip Town's Nolan: No new taxes

Islip Town Supervisor Phil Nolan said Tuesday he will keep taxes flat in 2012, broaden the town's green initiatives and increase the number of people eligible for senior and veteran tax deductions.

In his second state of the town address since being elected in 2006, Nolan highlighted successes of his administration and unveiled plans for this year and next.

"The state of our town and our town government is strong," he said in the 10-minute speech delivered moments before the town board's scheduled 2 p.m. meeting. "We've accomplished a lot, but we have more to do."

Nolan pledged not to raise taxes through the town's budget, which will be proposed in November. "Barring some kind of natural disaster, we will be delivering a no-tax-increase budget this year," he said afterward.

Nolan said his administration would "pursue an agenda that places a special emphasis on economic development and job creation." He highlighted several initiatives, including the arrival of Sysco Corp., the country's largest food distributor which is building a $75 million warehouse and guarantees bringing 185 jobs within two years of completion.

Nolan said his administration's successes include reducing overtime pay by more than $1 million per year and eliminating 30 percent of the town's budgeted positions at a savings of $18 million in salaries and benefits each year. The town eliminated health plans for part-time board members and bingo inspectors and reduced its fleet by 175 vehicles, he said.

But at the same time, the town increased services, he said. Islip was the first town on Long Island to offer curbside e-waste collection, he said.

In the coming weeks, Nolan said he would introduce legislation to make more senior citizens and veterans eligible for a town property-tax exemption

In another recycling initiative, school children will be given bags to take home to collect used batteries.Central Islip resident Flo Piesco, 64, who listened to the speech, was unconvinced Nolan would keep taxes flat. "I think it's a campaign platitude, which I hope happens, but don't believe it will because they have to put out platitudes that hit constituents' pockets," she said.

Fellow Central Islip resident Rosanne Gorgone, a retired law-enforcement official, agreed but was happy to hear about the town's plans and the newly created jobs. "He seems to want a more transparent government and I'm for that," she said.

Frank Tantone, Islip's GOP chairman, said the town payroll remains about the same despite the job cuts and called the speech "typical hypocrisy of the Phil Nolan administration."

"He keeps repeating the same misinformation in the hopes people will believe it but we believe the voters are smarter. We're confident we'll be successful in November," he said of the forthcoming town race in which the GOP and Conservative parties are contesting five positions.

With Sarah Crichton