Taxes to Decrease in Southampton Town

The first of two public hearings on Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman’s proposed $99.4 million budget for 2018 will be held on Tuesday. It reduces taxes for the second straight year even with a 5-percent spending increase. 

The tax rate will decline about 1 percent. This is thanks, in part, to the fact that for the first time in 15 years, according to the supervisor, the total value of property has increased across all school districts. The assessed value projected for 2017-18 is $63.7 billion, nearly $3 billion over this year. 

Meanwhile, the supervisor said the town’s healthy fund balance, which has grown by 40 percent in the past decade to $29.5 million, will be maintained.

The spending increase includes salary increases for all elected officials, including an 8-percent raise, or $9,000, for the supervisor, bringing his salary to $117,147. Town board members will see a 2-percent increase, with their salaries to be $65,795. 

Frank Zappone, the deputy supervisor, an appointed position, will receive a 52-percent  salary increase. He has been making between $30,000 and $50,000 a year; the raise will bring him up to $76,000 next year. 

A proposed capital budget funds several projects, including pedestrian safety improvements in Bridgehampton, police communications and dispatch upgrades, and upgrading the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system at Town Hall, among others. 

A second public hearing will be held on Nov. 14 at 1 p.m. The budget is scheduled to be adopted on Nov. 20 at 11 a.m.