Town of Islip OKs $16.9M capital budget

The Islip Town Board has approved its $16.9 million capital budget, which includes funding for road paving, playground equipment and a new concession stand at Islip Beach.

The board voted 4-1 last month to approve the 2013 plan, with Councilman Anthony S. Senft voting against the measure, saying he wanted more time to examine the proposed spending.

“I want a further opportunity to ... sit down with department heads and go over the rationale,” said Senft, the Republican-dominated board’s lone Conservative.

The proposal represents a decrease over the last year’s $17.2 million capital budget.

The board also approved a companion resolution, allowing the town to issue $13.6 million in capital bonds, which would help fund several of the projects.

The bonds will fund several projects, including the purchase of $70,000 worth of animal control vehicles, $300,000 in vehicle repairs, $90,000 for tree removal and replacement and $150,000 for fencing.

Another $650,000 in bond money is slated to pay for a new building, which serves as a concession stand, bathroom and lifeguard office, at Islip Beach. The current structure underwent substantial damage from superstorm Sandy.