Politics & Government
Smithtown Town Board To Vote On 2013 Budget
Smithtown Town Board will hold its first monthly meeting 2 p.m. Tuesday at Town Hall.
Smithtown's elected officials will cast their vote on the town's proposed 2013 budget and other matters on Tuesday.
Smithtown Town Board will hold its first meeting of November at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Town Hall at 99 West Main Street in Smithtown. This meeting was rescheduled from Nov. 6 due to the impact of Hurricane Sandy.
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Supervisor Patrick Vecchio has proposed a $103 million budget for 2013, a spending hike increase of approximately 2.4 percent. If approved, property taxes would increase by $46.83 for the average homeowner whose house is assessed value is $5,500.
A large portion of the spending increase of $1.8 million is due mandatory cost increases in pensions and hospitalization insurance.
Find out what's happening in Commackwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
However, the town was able to carry over surplus funding from the Highway Department's snow removal fund as last year was such a mild winter, allowing elected officials to reduce snow removal taxes by $10.36 per household.
Vecchio said the proposed budget avoids laying off town employees and does not cut any town services. Instead, elected officials are proposed to take a $7.3 million dip into the town's reserve funds, or rainy day funds, to balance the budget while keeping taxes low.
In addition to voting on the 2013 fiscal budget, Smithtown elected officials will also vote on an agreement with the Town of Brookhaven to dispose of "vegetative debris" at their municipal landfill for $75 a load.
A public hearing will also be held on the section of Smithtown town code relating to tents, and how it relates to when permits are required and situations where there are exceptions.
Click here to read Town of Smithtown's full agenda for their Nov. 20 meeting on the town's website.
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