Proposed Brookhaven budget: Spending up, flat taxes, no layoffs

The Brookhaven Town board has approved a $252.4 million tentative budget that would increase spending without raising taxes next year.

The board voted unanimously Tuesday to endorse the spending plan crafted by Supervisor Edward P. Romaine. The board must pass a final 2014 budget by Nov. 20.

Before the vote, three leaders of unions representing town employees said they supported the proposed budget. A public hearing is planned for Thursday at Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville.

The proposal would boost town spending by 1.9 percent, and the average Brookhaven home assessed at $2,750 would pay $997.28 in property taxes — 2 cents less than this year.

Romaine has said increased spending would be covered, in part, by higher fees for building and planning department permit applications. Romaine said the fees would go up about 1 percent, in accordance with a town law that mandates increases tied to the Consumer Price Index.

Brookhaven plans no layoffs next year.