The Huntington Town Board on Friday heard hours of debate over a preliminary 2027 budget that would raise the town's tax levy 18.4%, piercing the state's tax cap, as residents pressed for a middle ground between the increase and deep staffing cuts.
Comptroller Jonas Wagner told the board the $269.7 million operating budget carries a proposed tax levy of $169.9 million, about $22.5 million above the state's $147.4 million cap, and would raise a sample household's annual town tax bill by about $291.05, or roughly $24.25 a month.
Wagner said staying under the cap would require a 16% departmental cut that could affect up to 916 positions, including 123 full-time jobs. "In total, 916 positions could be affected, including 123 full-time," he said.
Department heads described what those cuts would mean. Human Services Director Kevin Thalborn said his department's programs for seniors, youth and the disabled depend on part-time staff. "The Department of Human Services is just that. Services for the people of Huntington, the majority of whom are the most vulnerable members of our population," he said. A parks and recreation official told the board that staying under the cap would mean eliminating all summer, seasonal and part-time positions, closing beaches and suspending summer camp programs, while a public safety official said an under-cap budget would force the animal shelter to close to the public.
Several residents argued the board was presenting a false choice. Ian Cohen of Dix Hills said no option between the 2.68% cap and the proposed 18% was ever presented. "Approve 18% or lose staff and programs. That's a false choice. It's the oldest move in government," he said. Christopher Phillips and Peter Golan made similar arguments, with Golan saying, "There's a big middle ground. Nothing is untouchable."
A resident asked the board to publish the cost of a vote that reduced, from 12 years to six, the service requirement for lifetime health insurance for town officials, appointees and spouses, saying the clerk's office confirmed no cost memos exist. "I don't want anyone in this room to believe that this board took care of itself first and put everyone else on the bill," the resident said. Johanna Stewart Tuchow later said a FOIL request confirmed no actuarial study was done and asked the board to repeal the resolution.
Marge Acosta told the board that comment on the budget has limited weight because the board has already voted to pierce the tax cap for 2027, with Councilman Bernardo, Councilwoman Mari and Supervisor Smith in favor. "So we have that 18% every year now, if it goes through," she said.
The board held public hearings on declaring two properties, at 184 Vineyard Road and 6180 Jericho Turnpike in Commack, as blighted, on a new traffic signal on West Hills Road at Walt Whitman High School, and on an amendment to the town's property maintenance and nuisance code; no speakers appeared at any of the three. The board later voted 5-0 to authorize enforcement action against the two blighted properties and adopted the property maintenance code amendment.
In a lengthy run of consent items, the board appointed Paul Basley Jr. to the Board of Ethics, Jonathan Rosen to the LGBTQ+ Task Force and Elliot Leonardo to the Huntington Housing Authority board, and scheduled Nov. 17 public hearings on a 12-month moratorium on battery energy storage system permits and on a new property tax exemption for volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers.