(September 18, 2015-Hauppauge, NY) Today, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone announced his Recommended Budget of $2.917 billion for fiscal 2016 which for the fourth consecutive year, freezes general fund taxes. This budget continues to demonstrate Bellone’s commitment to treating the East End fairly by increasing revenue sharing with all East End police departments by 13 percent.
“This budget continues to move Suffolk County in the right direction by holding the line on taxes, streamlining government and making smart investments in growing our economy,” County Executive Bellone said. “The formula for long term fiscal health is simple—hold the line on taxes, control spending, and grow the economy to create good jobs.”
Bellone recognized that for years, the East End was not treated fairly and was unfairly subsidizing public safety in other parts of Suffolk County. That is why Bellone worked with the East End’s two legislators, Jay Schneiderman and Al Krupski, on a fair plan that would increase revenue sharing with the East End departments by $1 million per year for three years. This is the second increase.
“Revenue sharing is about fairness and all residents can be assured that public safety dollars are being fairly disbursed to all local police departments,” County Executive Bellone said. “And I will keep my commitment in next year’s budget to continue to treat the East End fairly, as well.”
In all, this budget holds the line on spending by increasing total expenditures by just one percent while protecting and enhancing vital services for Suffolk County residents. Because Suffolk County is complying with the New York State tax cap program by both holding the line on taxes and demonstrating operational savings through its Government Efficiency Plan, all county households earning less than $500,000 will receive a dollar-for-dollar rebate, so they will not pay a penny more in taxes.
County Executive Bellone’s budget demonstrates the continued commitment to bring Suffolk County back into structural balance and the progress which has been made since he entered office. Nearly 80 percent of the budget mitigation measures are considered recurring measures, a stark difference from 2011 when two-thirds of the measures were “one-shot” actions. Many of these items were included in the Government Efficiency Plan which allows Suffolk County residents to receive tax rebates, including saving more than $1.5 million per year by merging the redundant offices of Treasurer and Comptroller and transitioning Suffolk County health centers to a private-sector provider, saving approximately $77 million.
This budget also contains funding to help implement the Comprehensive Master Plan, which was recently unanimously approved by the Suffolk County Legislature. This plan, the county’s first since 1971, provides the framework for sustainable growth and resiliency and for economic development that will help to retain and attract businesses and create jobs for Suffolk County residents.
A chart outlining the impact on aid to individual police departments follows.
|
Municipality
|
2014 Payment
|
2015 Payment
|
2016 Proposed
|
Increase '15 to '16
|
% Change from '15 to '16
|
|
Town of East Hampton
|
$691,117.00
|
796,017
|
900,917
|
104,900
|
13%
|
|
Town of Riverhead
|
$1,178,655.00
|
1,357,555
|
1,536,455
|
178,900
|
13%
|
|
Town of Shelter Island
|
$112,661.00
|
129,761
|
146,861
|
17,100
|
13%
|
|
Town of Southampton
|
$1,943,561.00
|
2,238,561
|
2,533,561
|
295,000
|
13%
|
|
Town of Southold
|
$885,473.00
|
1,019,873
|
1,154,273
|
134,400
|
13%
|
|
Village of Amityville
|
$462,502.00
|
532,702
|
602,902
|
70,200
|
13%
|
|
Village of Asharoken
|
$40,189.00
|
46,289
|
52,389
|
6,100
|
13%
|
|
Village of East Hampton
|
$69,836.00
|
80,436
|
91,036
|
10,600
|
13%
|
|
Village of Head Of Harbor
|
$67,201.00
|
77,401
|
87,601
|
10,200
|
13%
|
|
Village of Huntington Bay
|
$75,766.00
|
87,266
|
98,766
|
11,500
|
13%
|
|
Village of Lloyd Harbor
|
$166,685.00
|
191,985
|
217,285
|
25,300
|
13%
|
|
Back
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