Islip Town board to hear departmental plans for 2014 budget

The Islip Town board plans to host a special budget meeting on Thursday at 2 p.m. at Town Hall to hear departmental presentations for the 2014 budget. The meeting will be open to the public, acting supervisor Eric Hofmeister said at Thursday’s board meeting.

Last month, the bond rating agency Standard & Poor’s reaffirmed the town’s strong AAA rating — the highest issued by the agency — but dropped the outlook from stable to negative. S&P’s analysts projected that future financial circumstances may result in the agency lowering its rating. The town has a $111 million budget for 2013.

The board also discussed the preponderance of special events in the town, which range from street fairs to block parties, parades and races.

“Some of these runs are keeping people inside their homes from 9 a.m. to 6 in the evening,” said Councilwoman Trish Bergin Weichbrodt. She suggested that planners coordinate their events’ routes better with the town.