Huntington OKs $220M budget that drops planned parking meters

Town of Huntington officials worked across party lines Thursday night and passed a $220 million amended budget for next year that no longer includes a projected revenue stream from parking meters in the downtowns.

Republican Town Board member Sal Ferro offered an amendment to the budget proposed by Supervisor Ed Smyth that eliminated the $1 million parking meter revenue stream. The amendment called for filling the gap by taking $300,000 from the town’s general fund reserve and eliminating six vacant jobs.

Smyth, a Republican, seconded the motion for the amendment that Ferro offered along with Democrat Joan Cergol and Republican Dave Bennardo. Ferro said he thought Smyth did the best he could with the budget. 

“Unfortunately, you cannot create revenue on the backs of others and you cannot create a revenue stream that’s going to be contrary to what our constituents want,” Ferro said during the meeting.

Smyth had offered a preliminary operating budget for 2023 that was within the state-mandated 2% tax cap despite inflationary pressures across several cost centers. But it was met with resounding condemnation from residents, business owners and others on the town board because of the plan to install parking meters at various municipal lots within the town, including in Cold Spring Harbor and the Village of Northport.

The amended budget, which will increase property taxes on the average home by $48, was passed 4-1 at the town board meeting. Republican Gene Cook said he was concerned about what impact taking money out of reserve funds would have on Huntington’s future bond rating, so he voted no.

There is $24 million in the town’s general fund reserve account. The town has a total of $52 million in 13 reserve accounts. The half dozen positions that were eliminated include two in public safety and one each in the highway, general services and human services departments and one in the receiver of taxes office. 

Smyth said Friday that he was comfortable using reserve funds because “the numbers speak for themselves; we have a very large reserve.”

Earlier this fall when he presented his budget, Smythe told Newsday he was open to changes “if they make sense.”

“I hope everyone sees that the public’s comments don’t fall on deaf ears,” Smyth said at the end of Thursday’s meeting. “It means a lot when you do come out and voice your opinions. We do listen, and we will adjust course when it’s appropriate.”

The town’s 2023 capital budget of $24.32 million was also approved 4-1. Cook cast the dissenting vote.