Village Trims Budget Even More Ahead of Public Hearing

Various departments within Port Jefferson have seen their wish lists sliced and diced as the village trims expenses ahead of the April 16 budget hearing.

According to a report in the Port Times Record, “the proposed $9.3 million budget — a 6.4 percent increase from this year — includes more than $500,000 from the village's fund balance to cover one-time expenses, such as a Long Island Power Authority study and completing the Harborwalk, and to help reduce the tax levy.”

The proposed budget also includes two other major expenses.

The first and biggest is a $5.5 million voter approved roadway repair bond that the village must begin paying back. A $325,000 principal and interest payment on the bond will roll into next year’s budget.

The village will also have to begin paying for its own snow and ice removal as of next winter, an expense that in the past was reimbursed by Brookhaven Town.

“We’re going to be budgeting $140,000 for snow removal but we’re not going to be reimbursed,” said Mayor Margot Garant.

The Port Times Record reports that the tax levy on the proposed budget would be $5.4 million, an increase of 6.5 percent from last year.

To read the full story on the Port Times Record website, please click here.