On Thursday, Nov. 9, the Town of Islip board unanimously approved the proposed budget for fiscal year 2024.
A public portion was held before the vote, but no community members had elected to speak.
A full copy of the budget is available at the town clerk’s office and at the town’s website.
The cap for 2024, set by New York State, was 2 percent, and the overall increase of the Town of Islip’s 2024 budget was .09 percent, making it tax cap compliant. No line items were cut from the previous year’s budget.
“I would love to come up here today and tell you we have all new wonderful things in the budget… but unfortunately, it’s the same meat and potatoes, kind of boring budget,” said comptroller Joseph Ludwig.
The fiscal maintenance approach to the budget has been similar for the past 10 years, according to Ludwig.
Ludwig said it had grown increasingly difficult to keep the budget at “status quo,” given the rate of inflation rising to nearly 7 percent from 3 percent two years ago.
“Our revenues, unfortunately, have not kept pace as expenses have gone up. This is done somewhat on purpose as we try to keep our tax levy as low as possible to not impact the residents more than what is necessary,” said Ludwig.
The budget planning process begins in June when commissioners send in their requests to the comptroller’s office.
Ludwig commended the commissioners, whom he characterized as “understanding they have to do more with less.”
“They have to get more creative to do more with less, they have to find better ways… they do the best they can.”
A tax increase of 2.3 percent will go towards the three main funds of the town, including the general fund, highway fund, and part town fund.
The town’s portion of the annual homeowner’s property tax bill is approximately 5 percent to 7 percent of the total (i.e., $500 to $700 with annual property taxes of $10,000). Given that figure, a tax increase of 2.3 percent would be approximately $11.50 to $16.10 annually for a residence with $10,000 in property taxes.
“The one new thing we can talk about is the Quality-of-Life Court, passed with a resolution back in July,” said Ludwig. “[…] We are not subject to ‘waiting our turn,’ so to speak, with every other township at the 5th District Court... It is not an expensive initiative.”
A new initiative, the Quality-of-Life Court will incur expenses for judges, court reporting, translation services and software, but will not require additional expenses for a physical court as the town board room will be utilized.
“It is a status-quo budget; we did the best that we can without raising taxes too much,” said Ludwig.
Town of Islip supervisor Angie Carpenter commended the commissioners, who she said took the mandate “to sharpen their pencils to heart.”
Carpenter compared the .9 percent overall budget increase to other towns reported in media that had double-digit increases, and further commended Ludwig and his department for the budget presented.
Carpenter said, “The biggest thing is when there’s a problem with a derelict house or a car is parked and the town comes in with the fire marshal and code enforcer, then 30 to 60 days later, it hasn’t been resolved. The district court agenda is very, very heavy and they’re dealing with some major, major issues, more than just quality-of-life issues that, quite frankly, more negatively impact our town more than the big crimes that happen.”
Carpenter said that “the commitment to public safety is there,” and pointed out that no cuts to public safety had been proposed in the 2024 budget.
Addressing the cyberattack on the county, Carpenter said the Town of Islip fared much better against similar attacks with the IT department’s performance, and said that rates for cybersecurity insurance for the town were optimal, given the strength of the town’s IT Department.
Increasing interest rates have affected the town’s budget as more interest will be paid on bonds, but the increase has been offset by the increased interest earned in custodial accounts.
“That’s why having the AAA bond rating we have is so important,” said town attorney, Michael Walsh.
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