Brightwaters trustees pass $2.7M budget

The Village of Brightwaters recently passed a $2,745,110 budget for 2011-12, Mayor Joseph McNulty said.

It’s the 12th consecutive year the village’s board of trustees has kept taxes flat, he said, adding that the budget total is the same amount as last year.

The village tax rate remains $22.50 per $1,000 of taxable assessed home value, he said.

Officials have been able to keep spending at the same level by acting “judiciously” and by “managing money,” McNulty said.

Some village projects have also been funded by state grants, he added.

“We just don’t take on any major projects that we can’t fund,” McNulty said.

In keeping with that philosophy, the mayor said Brightwaters might hold off on some projects next year, such as paving some roads.

“I truly believe we should try to live within our means,” he said. “It’s easy to just raise taxes. It’s harder to live within our means.”