Village to hold hearing on property tax cap

Westhampton Beach village officials expect to set a date for a public hearing on a local law that would allow the village property tax levy for next year to exceed the state’s 2 percent cap.

But, Mayor Conrad Teller said, the move is more of a precaution than a desire to increase spending.

“State officials recommended we do it,” he said. “They won’t even be reviewing our budget for a year, but we don’t want to be hit with any fines.”

The village has not yet prepared its budget for next fiscal year, and Teller said he sees no reason why the state goal cannot be met in 2012. But, he added, it can’t be followed forever.

“If you have a car, you can always get a year or two more out of it,” he said. “But sometime you have to get a new one.”

The public hearing on the tax cap resolution is expected to be set at the board’s regular meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday.