Brookhaven firms not happy with national economy

There were positive signs in a report about business in Brookhaven, released earlier this week by a town-appointed committee. Most companies like doing business in the town and want to stay there.

But what concerned Supervisor Mark Lesko was the lack of confidence the survey found in the national economy. The second-annual survey by the Brookhaven Business Advisory Council found that 76 percent of respondents -- the survey polled 153 companies in the town -- gave "a neutral to negative vote in overall confidence" regarding the U.S. economy. Only 1 percent felt confidence.

Complaints often center around local taxes and regulations, Lesko said. "Now it seems these national issues are starting to seep into the consciousness of our businesses and there's little the town can do about that. On a daily basis, we haven't felt like we have climbed out of this recession. Now fatigue is setting in. These businesses are just hanging on."

There was bad news for employees. The survey found that 66 percent of responding companies don't anticipate handing out raises this year, 12 percent higher than last year. And 67 percent aren't planning to add staff.