State Okays Draft Budget

Both spending and anticipated revenues in the proposed $71.5 million 2015 East Hampton Town budget are “reasonable,” according to the New York State Comptroller’s office.

The state required the town to issue a deficit-financing bond covering the $28 million shortfall that accumulated under the McGintee administration, and as part of the requirement the town must submit its annual budgets to the state for review.

At a budget hearing last Thursday, Tom Knobel, the chairman of the East Hampton Republican Committee, raised a couple of questions. Mr. Knobel questioned a reliance on fees to raise revenue, suggesting that several projected sources of income — an expected payment from the county and increased income from the East Hampton Airport — might be both premature and ill-advised.

The projections are “conservative,” rejoined Town Supervisor Larry Cantwell, who expressed confidence that they would be met.

Also last Thursday the town board appointed former Councilwoman Julia Prince to a position, beginning Sunday, as an ordinance inspector, at an annual salary of $44,757. Before being elected to the town board, Ms. Prince had worked in the Ordinance Enforcement Department.

According to another resolution approved last week, John Lascari will join the Building Department as a senior building inspector on Dec. 1, for a salary of $56,638 a year.