Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman released his 2024 Tentative Budget today, presented by the Town Clerk to the Town Board at a Special Town Board meeting. It is his eighth and final budget as Southampton Town Supervisor, as term limits prevent his running again for this office.
It is the Supervisor’s responsibility to create and publish a tentative budget for the public and the Board to review and to recommend changes before the budget is adopted later in November. In this Tentative Budget, three principal priorities are supported:
- Protecting the taxpayer. Keeping the tax rate low so as not to unduly burden the taxpayer has been a guiding principle for every budget Schneiderman has submitted as Supervisor. This budget is no exception. The 2024 Tentative Budget tax rate of 1.3905 represents a 1.04% increase over the 2023 tax rate, well below the rate of inflation.
- Prioritizing public safety. In addition to increases in staffing in the police department and the bay constable division, this tentative budget adds meaningful funding to traffic safety and traffic mitigation programs. Although the solutions to this problem will require support from many levels of government, the Town must, and will, play a leadership role.
- Sustaining the level of services, programs, and facilities needed to best serve the community. Southampton has seen a significant increase in its year-round population, and a surge in its appeal as a vacation community. The costs for goods and services continue to rise. The needs of the Town continue to grow. The beaches, parks, roads, and the many other services the Town provides must be prepared to meet that growing demand and the increased operational costs.
Supervisor Schneiderman has presented a budget plan that meets these challenges head-on. The 2024 Tentative Budget continues to fund the operations that provide for the public’s safety, and also delivers the services that taxpayers have come to expect from the Town. The 2024 Tentative Budget:
- Funds all staffing costs;
- Maintains and/or improves the levels of municipal and emergency services;
- Commits to capital projects that maintain and improve infrastructure;
- Stays within the New York State tax cap.
“I am pleased to present my Tentative Budget for 2024,” said Schneiderman. “This is a balanced budget that stays within the tax cap while meeting the needs of our residents. The budget utilizes conservative revenue projections and realistic expense estimates while maintaining healthy reserves in all funds. The budget continues sound fiscal practices, which have helped the Town earn the highest municipal bond rating of Aaa. I extend a special thank you to Comptroller Dorothy Godlewski for her assistance in preparing the 2024 Tentative Budget.”
The 2024Tentative Budget will be converted to the Preliminary Budget at a Special Meeting on October 5, 2023. Two public hearings are scheduled on the Preliminary Budget - Tuesday October 24 at 6:00p.m., and Tuesday, November 14 at 1:00 p.m. Input from the public is considered and amendments, if any, from the Town Council members are put forward. The final budget must be adopted by November 20, per Town Law.
A copy of the 2024 Tentative Budget may be found at: https://www.southamptontownny.gov/2024-Budget
