Southold Town Asks for 1.96 Percent Tax Increase in 2013 Budget

Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell and members of the town board have released a preliminary budget for 2013, asking for a property tax increase of 1.96 percent.

The supervisor released a tentative budget in late September with a total appropriation of $40,976,029 and a tax increase of 1.98 percent. In 2012, taxes increased by 2.52 percent to meet the

"The preparation of the 2013 budget presents challenges that were no different than in year’s past," the supervisor wrote in a statement. "Revenue from all sources continues to decline. Assessed values have also declined. The costs of operating this town continue to increase — fuel, health care, MYA payroll tax and obligations to the New York State Retirement System are but some of the costs that continue to increase."

See a summary of the preliminary 2013 Town Budget and proposed salaries for elected officials below. The full preliminary Town and Capital Budget document is attached.

The public is encouraged to attend an informational meeting with Supervisor Scott Russell and Town Comptroller John Cushman on Monday at 7 p.m. at the Peconic Lane Community Center to learn about the 2013 budget as well as the budgeting process.

The meeting will focus on the content of the proposed budget, anticipated revenues and expenditures as well as the reason for the proposed 1.96 percent tax increase. The New York State mandated 2 percent tax cap and its relevance to municipal budgets will also be on the table.

A public hearing on the the proposed budget takes place on Nov. 7 at 4 and 7 p.m. in Southold Town Hall.

SCHEDULE OF SALARIES OF ELECTED OFFICIALS

(ARTICLE 8 OF TOWN LAW)

Officer

Supervisor

 $     91,992

Members of  the Town Board (4) @

 $     32,567

Town Justice and Member of the Town Board, Fishers Island

 $     49,662

Town Justices (2) @

 $     66,618

Town Clerk

 $     92,275

Superintendent of Highways

 $   100,857

Tax Receiver

 $     37,174

Assessors (3) @

 $     71,214

Trustees (5) @

 $     17,984

SUMMARY OF TOWN BUDGET

2013 PRELIMINARY

Appropriations

Less:

Less:

and Provisions

Estimated

Unexpended

Amount to be

Code

Fund

for Other Uses

Revenues

Balance

Raised by Tax

A

General

 $  28,471,228

 $    3,625,476

 $   2,630,000

 $ 22,215,752

B

General-Outside Village

       2,191,079

       1,248,890

           98,500

         843,689

DB

Highway Fund

       5,622,086

          353,769

         335,500

      4,932,917

CD

Community Development

            85,000

            85,000

                   -

                    -

CS

Risk Retention Fund

          521,000

          521,000

                   -

                    -

H3

Community Preservation Fund

       6,293,439

       3,916,000

      2,377,439

                    -

MS

Employees Health Plan

       4,750,784

       4,600,784

         150,000

                    -

Total-Town

 $  47,934,616

 $  14,350,919

 $   5,591,439

 $ 27,992,258

DB1

Orient Road Improvement Dist

 $          3,650

 $                  -

 $             650

 $          3,000

SF

East-West Fire Protection Dist

         739,353

                500

             7,000

         731,853

SM

Fishers Island Ferry Dist

      3,740,837

       2,694,168

         281,669

         765,000

SR

Solid Waste Management Dist

      4,449,776

       2,264,500

           78,000

      2,107,276

SS1

Southold Wastewater Dist

         126,300

                     -

           20,000

         106,300

SS2

Fishers Island Sewer Dist

           34,600

            32,471

             2,129

                    -

F.I. Waste Management Dist

         829,450

            70,000

         222,500

         536,950

Orient Mosquito Dist

           85,000

                     -

                   -

           85,000

Subtotal-Special Districts

 $ 10,008,966

 $     5,061,639

 $      611,948

 $   4,335,379

Orient-East Marion Park Dist

 $        39,984

 $                  -

 $                -

 $        39,984

Southold Park District

         321,300

                     -

                   -

         321,300

Cutchogue-New Suffolk Pk Dist.

         140,000

                     -

          10,000

         130,000

Mattituck Park District

         581,610

            28,000

        147,300

         406,310

Subtotal-Park Districts

 $   1,082,894

 $         28,000

 $     157,300

 $      897,594

Fishers Island Fire District

 $      395,200

 $              150

 $                -

 $      395,050

Orient Fire District

         602,920

            65,450

                   -

         537,470

East Marion Fire District

         610,783

            84,430

          17,000

         509,353

Southold Fire District

      1,830,875

            22,493

                   -

      1,808,382

Cutchogue Fire District

      1,276,700

              1,000

          45,000

      1,230,700

Mattituck Fire District

      1,822,282

                     -

                   -

      1,822,282

Subtotal-Fire Districts

 $   6,538,760

 $       173,523

 $       62,000

 $   6,303,237

Total-All Districts

 $ 17,630,620

 $    5,263,162

 $     831,248

 $ 11,536,210

Grand Totals This Page

  65,565,235.91

 19,614,081.00

 6,422,687.00

 39,528,467.91