Tentative budget includes 1.96% tax increase, salary increases and funding for sewage project
The annual budget for Northport Village is up for a virtual public hearing tomorrow, January 4 at 6pm. This year’s proposed budget is based on a 1.96% tax increase, which is just below the New York State mandated tax cap regulation.
The upcoming year’s fiscal spending plan includes several sources of revenue, including a 25% increase in mortgage tax revenue and a 15% increase in sales tax received from Suffolk County. The Village also has an appropriated fund balance of $225,000, which will help to offset additional tax increases.
The proposed tax increase is the result of several expenditures, including a general salary increase of 2.5% across the board for all Village administrative and blue-collar workers, according to a presentation made by Village treasurer Leonard Marchese during the December 7 board meeting. In addition, the Police Benevolent Association (PBA) provides for a 2.7% increase in salary for employees of the Village Police Department.
Other expenditures in the proposed budget include:
An additional $25k to the fire department retirement fund
Funding for the fire department equipment reserve account
Funding for 24-hour paramedic services
Funding for an additional code enforcement officer, primarily for the weekends
Funding for additional Village vehicles in the police, highway and parks departments
Funding for improvements to Village Hall, including bathroom and courtroom renovations, the installation of a secure separate court transaction counter, and an updated front entrance
Funding for the Village-wide street and park lighting modernization project
Funding to complete the Bluff Point Avenue sewer treatment hook-up project
On the list of appropriations (or dedicated assets) for 2022-23, which totals $22,549,655, the top five costs include:
Sewer project: $4,982,710
Employee benefits: $4,459,053
Police department: $3,916,344
Fire department: $2,477,805
General government support: $2,457,504
The budgeted salaries for Village employees or departments are as follows:
Mayor: $21,538
Trustees (four): $43,076
Treasury department
Treasurer: $64,063
Deputy treasurer: $73,800
Payroll clerk: $78,925
Stipend: $7,500
Clerk’s office
Village clerk: $87,125
Deputy clerk: $63,960
Counter clerk: $45,729
Clerk: $53,300
Engineers
Village administrator: $102,500
Assistant to Village administrator: $56,592
Assistant to the mayor: $102,500
Municipal court
Village court clerk: $52,268
Assistant court clerk: $45,450
Justice: $21,013
Acting justice: $2,563
Police Department
Chief: $249,502
Lieutenant: $191,132
Sergeants (4): $175,959 each
Detective: $161,244
Police officers (10): $1,026,405 total
Crossing guard: $62,369
Public safety dispatchers (4): $332,344 total
Automotive mechanic: $85,634
Meter Personnel (1 FT, 1 PT): $72,075 total
Fire Department
Senior firehouse attendant: $91,522
Firehouse attendant III: $85,509
Firehouse attendant II (3): $230,836 total
Temporary department houseman: $28,000
Paramedics: $234,375
Code Enforcement
Code compliance (2): $49,268 total
Fire Marshal: $37,310
Highway Department
General foreman: $109,522
Assistant foreman: $88,974
Auto mechanic: $85,974
Maintenance mechanic (3): $250,880 total
Heavy equipment operator: $78,216
Laborers (6): $386,644 total
Parks Department
Senior groundskeeper: $84,960
Laborer: $85,216
Beach managers/attendant/lifeguard: $62,000 total
Dock master (4): $25,000 total
Pumpout boat operator (2): $15,000 total
Sewage
Senior plant operator: $90,022
Plant operator (3): $242,923 total
Boards
Zoning appeals: $1,500
Planning board: $1,500
Fire commissioners: $1,500
Architectural review: $1,500
The public hearing to consider the proposed budget will be held tomorrow, January 4 at 6pm via videoconferencing access only. The link to attend the meeting is here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0rcuqgqTsuHNYkUFX2Evs2rJR1SKFyXzi4
You can find the entire tentative budget here: https://northportny.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/2022-Tentative-Budget-20211222.pdf
