The East Hampton Town Board will hold a public hearing on the town's 2023 preliminary budget — a $90.36 million spending plan — during its meeting next Thursday at 2 p.m.
The preliminary budget, copies of which are available for review at the town clerk's office, evolved from the tentative budget unveiled on Oct. 4.
In its tentative form, next year's budget represented a 5.6-percent increase over this year's, largely due to inflation and the cost of housing on the South Fork, Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc said. The plan would raise wages "significantly," he said this month, "in order to try and stay competitive within the market. We know that there is lot of pressure on this market for employees."
Next year's budget includes salary increases for all employees, 22 instances of merit pay for extraordinary service, and multiple promotions, title changes, and new positions. The Ordinance Enforcement department is budgeted to gain another officer, two inspectors, and an additional animal control officer. The Police Department would gain two officers, and there would be full-time positions added to the Human Resources, Human Services, Land Acquisition and Management, and Sanitation Departments.
Also included are outlays to nonprofit organizations and food pantry programs. LTV and the Hampton Hopper shuttle service would also see continued funding. And there is money budgeted for the auditor's new year-end reporting requirements, part-time salaries in the clerk's office, for anticipated boat repairs and a software update for the Marine Patrol Department, for more funding for the Land Acquisition and Management Department, and for an increase in the Police Department's 911 maintenance contract and for a Wi-Fi project to be completed next year.
The budget is projected to fall under the New York State-mandated 2-percent tax levy cap by around $18,000, according to what Rebecca Hansen, the townÕs budget director, told the board on Oct. 11.
A resolution to notice the public hearing at the town board's meeting last Thursday included salaries for some town officials as set in the preliminary budget. The supervisor will be paid $129,882. The four other members of the board will each be paid $81,178. Each of two Town Justices will be paid $94,327. The town clerk and the superintendent of highways will each be paid $109,487. The chair of the Board of Assessors will be paid $104,184, and each of two assessors will be paid $94,077.
The clerk of the town trustees will be paid $26,552, each of two deputy clerks will be paid $22,102, and the remaining six trustees will be paid $9,409.
Also at last Thursday's meeting, the board voted to amend the town code to increase the exemption of a property's assessed value from taxation for senior citizens and disabled people with limited income, based on their income level. State legislation signed into law in August amended the real property tax law to raise the maximum income eligibility for senior citizens and the disabled from $29,000 to $50,000. The vote followed a public hearing earlier this month.
