Smithtown board OKs $104.4M budget

Smithtown officials have unanimously approved a $104.4 million budget for 2014.

No Smithtown town board members made changes to the budget that Smithtown Supervisor Patrick Vecchio crafted.

The budget, which passed 5-0 at Tuesday's board meeting, calls for increased spending of less than 1 percent over the current year's $103.6 million budget, but does not raise taxes or lay off workers.

The average Smithtown home assessed at $5,500 would pay about $1,219.54, representing $13.12 less in overall taxes this year.

Smithtown saved money from about five jobs eliminated through attrition, as well as about $700,000 remaining from an estimated increase in hospitalization funds this year and about a $300,000 increase in mortgage taxes, Vecchio said.

Smithtown's tentative budget includes contractual raises for unionized white-collar and blue-collar workers, but no pay increases for elected officials.

Councilman Thomas McCarthy said he voted for the budget because "it was a very well put together, fiscally responsible budget. It kept all services up and reduced taxes."

The only resident who spoke about the budget at an Oct. 24 hearing was then-Democratic town council candidate Richard Macellaro, who talked about the importance of having open budget preparation meetings so community members can participate in its formation.

Vecchio said at the time the low meeting turnout underscored the fact that "people are aware of the budget and think it's fair, honest and accurate, and decreases taxes by approximately $13 per household."