Babylon Town cuts spending $3.3M for 2012

The Town of Babylon on Thursday approved its 2012 budget, which includes a tax cut for residents. The 3-0 vote came during a town board meeting. Council members Jackie Gordon and Lindsay Henry were not present for the vote.

The $137.2 million budget reflects a $3.3 million, or 2.4 percent, reduction in spending from 2011. The budget increases general fund taxes 9 percent and decreases residential garbage taxes 21 percent. The highway, lighting and part-town taxes are roughly the same as last year. Overall, residents will see a 4.9 percent, or $3.8 million, reduction in their town taxes.

For the average home valued at $305,600, general fund taxes will rise $31 to $377 while garbage taxes will fall $85 to $313, with an overall town tax cut of about $54 , bringing the average tax bill to $1,059.

Town officials attributed the decrease in spending to a reduction in employees, a decrease in overtime and renegotiated contracts with vendors. The increase in the general fund is due to declining mortgage tax revenue, increasing state pension contributions and rising health care costs. Town officials said the residential garbage fund decrease is due to $5.5 million in surplus money that is expected to come from renegotiated contracts and increased LIPA energy credits, as well as the termination of trucking leachate from the ashfill.