COVID-induced population growth drives up Southampton's 2022 budget, supervisor says

The tentative 2022 Southampton Town budget calls for a 5.8% spending increase to meet rising demand for town services due to a nearly 22% population growth following the COVID-19 pandemic, town officials said.

The $113,864,162 spending plan calls for a $6.2 million increase over the 2021 budget, money that will in part fund new positions, contractual raises and investment in town facilities. It raises the tax levy by 2.51% although Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman stressed that the general fund tax rate decreased by 1%.

Other funds like police, 911 dispatch and zoning have higher increases meaning residents who live outside incorporated villages and pay into those funds will see a slight rise in property taxes. Most residents will see an average increase around 2%, Schneiderman said.

"That's right in line with inflation," Schneiderman told Newsday Monday. "People have to understand that we're going to collect the money that we need from property taxes to provide the services that people expect."

The spending plan comes about $700,000 under the state-mandated cap on the tax levy increase, he said.

Schneiderman’s budget message notes the town grew from a population of 56,769 to 69,036 according to the 2020 Census between 2010 and 2020. He has said he believes that number greatly undercounts the population growth from New York City residents migrating out east during the COVID-19 pandemic.

That growth has put greater demand on town services such as public safety, beach and park use and waste management, Schneiderman said. The budget calls for nine new staff positions including two police officers, two 911 dispatchers, a police department crime analyst, upgrades a part-time public safety officer to full time, adds two new waste management positions and a Community Preservation Fund environmental analyst.

The crime analyst position will provide "the statistical foundation for efficient and effective daily police operations and future initiatives," Schneiderman said in the budget message.

The budget also would fund a new $800,000 tub grinder, which pulverizes yard waste into mulch, after age and continuous use burned out the old equipment.

Schneiderman also announced plans to move to an automated beach permit system similar to E-ZPass by 2023 to save money.

The spending plan also includes a 9% raise for Schneiderman, increasing his salary from a $124,317 base in 2021 to $135,000. Schneiderman, who is running unopposed for his fourth and final two-year term due to term limits, said the increase is needed to attract qualified candidates to what is essentially a 24/7 job. The salary is also less than many Long Island school administrator jobs, he said.

"It's low for the responsibilities that are placed on the town supervisor compared to similar administrative posts," he said.

About half the $26 million capital budget will be funded through bonds and half through cash on hand, according to town comptroller Len Marchese. Long-term debt has been reduced from $136 million in 2013 to $84 million under his tenure, he said.

The budget will go before several public hearings before the town board adopts the final version in November.

By Vera Chinese

vera.chinese@newsday.com@VeraChinese

Vera Chinese joined Newsday in 2017 after working as an editor for the East End lifestyle publication northforker and a general assignment reporter for the New York Daily News.