Politics & Government

Supervisor's Budget Calls For Sale of Poxabogue, Tax Cuts

Bill Wilkinson says 2012 budget creates cash flow, while keeping taxes down.

Supervisor Bill Wilkinson proposed a tentative 2012 budget of $65.6 million, an increase of 2.45 percent over last year, but includes the sale of the town's share of the Poxabogue Golf Center to create cash flow and help keep the tax levy down. 

The town owns 50 percent of the golf center, which is located just over the Wainscott border in Sagaponack, and the supervisor proposes selling its share to the Town of Southampton, which owns the other half already.

Wilkinson outlined that the revenue will help pay down debt principal on the proprty over the next four years, which he said totals about $180,000 per year. The original bond will then be paid off.

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"The debt balance will be paid in full after the tenth year of the loan issuance date thus saving the town $100,000 in interest that would have been paid over the last seven years of the original bond," Wilkinson wrote.

Released late Friday afternoon, the budget proposed would lower taxes by about .2 percent outside East Hampton and Sag Harbor villages and 9.4 percent inside the villages. Overall, the budget is a $1.57 million increase .

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"Spending increases slightly, due primarily to employee benefit cost escalation and in part to money needed to eliminate the $27.3 million deficit created by the previous administration," Wilkinson wrote in the introduction. Employee benefits are projected to increase by approximately $2.4 million.

The supervisor points to $700,000 in cost savings as a result of stopping the leaf pick-up program and closing the East Hampton Recycling Center on Wednesdays.

In other budget highlights, the privatization of the Scavenger Waste Facility is contemplated, as there is no plan for the town to operate the plant.

Funding for the East Hampton Day Care Learning Center, Family Service League, East Hampton Food Pantry, Phoenix House, Montauk Youth Association, Springs Youth Association, Project MOST, RSVP for Seniors and the Pediatric Dental Fund have been kept at the funding levels they were at in 2011.

The East Hampton Town Board has until Nov. 20 to pass a budget for the upcoming year.


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