Letter: Huntington grapples with budget
Elvis Costello plays The Paramount Theater in Huntington. (Sept. 30, 2011) Credit: Bruce Gilbert
My town board colleagues and I are longtime, ardent supporters of the arts in Huntington. Thus, Jenna Kern-Rugile's heartfelt op-ed "Once again, the arts are first up for cuts" [Opinion, Oct. 7] touched me as a reminder of the difficult choices required to prepare the 2012 preliminary town budget.
Last Thursday, I met with Arts Council board members and explained that this is among the most challenging budgets I've ever prepared. The economy and municipal revenue is flat, while the town continues to be hit with double-digit increases in the cost of pensions and health insurance.
In order to hold the line on taxes, my budget freezes salaries, defers capital spending, imposes a charge on employees for part of their health coverage and makes a total of $10 million in cuts. Arts were a tiny fraction, but fairness dictates that no group be exempt.
If our finances improve, I have promised the arts organizations they will be among the first to benefit.
Frank P. Petrone, Huntington
Editor's note: The writer is the Huntington Town supervisor.
