Deadline Passes: Town Budget Goes Into Effect By Default

For the first time in nearly two decades, the Town of Huntington operating budget will go into effect by default.

With the Nov. 20 deadline expired and no preliminary budget approval reached, the — rejected 3-2 by the Town Board Nov. 9 — is now adopted, according to town law.

Not since votes on the 1992 operating budget and 1993 capital budget has the Huntington Town Board failed to agree on a spending plan, according to A.J. Carter, the town's public information officer.

In what he called a troubled economy with stagnant property values, Town Supervisor Frank Petrone said his plan offers the continuation of essential services without a tax increase in general operating or refuse district funds.

"Although the economy is showing signs of a slow recovery, finding ways to mitigate tax burdens must continue to be our priority," said Petrone in a September statement.

Petrone pledged to continue town support for park maintenance, roads, the Senior Center, youth projects and drainage efforts — but missing from his pledge was a commitment to the arts.

Now in effect are approximately $250,000 in town funding to programs including the , at , , , Whalen Museum, , .

The cuts have sharply divided Town Board members and raised concerns among residents.

Siding with Petrone is Town Board member Mark Cuthbertson who called for fiscal conservancy while for voting no and offering no timely budget amendment resolutions.

"One of the most fundamental duties of a member of the Town Board is to work with town departments to develop and adopt a budget," said Cuthbertson last week. "It is a travesty that the budget will now go into effect by default and that there were not three votes for this sensible and lean budget."

Town Board member Susan Berland offered an alternative plan minutes before before the final budget vote Nov. 9 — one day after being reelected.

Under Berland's amendment which offered a partial solution and failed to receive a second vote, a town contingency account would have been created with an initial balance of $52,500, to be followed by an infusion of an additional $50,000 in January. All funds would have come from items already in the proposed budget, .

"The additional amounts needed to fund our arts and not-for-profit programs at fully-projected levels would then be made up over the course of the year from a combination of public and, with the Town’s fundraising assistance, private sources," according to Berland.

Throughout her campaign, Berland pledged to be mindful of the increased importance of cultural programs and not-for-profits. "These are among the things that make Huntington the special town that it is."

Without offering options, Town Board member Mark Mayoka joined Berland and Town Board member Glenda Jackson in opposition of Petrone's plan.

"I am also in favor of supporting art programs, and in terms of a budget of $175 million, it is a small percentage of the budget," said Mayoka Nov. 9. "I just want to note that this current budget is in fact, not balanced."

Jackson, who lost her bid for reelection Nov. 8, commended Petrone in his attempt to do more with less but sided with Berland and Mayoka against the cuts. She did not offer an alternative plan.

At , Petrone said prudent budgeting is needed with possible litigation, employee grievances and a new $2 million community college tax pending.

"We don't spend hoping that dollars will come in, we plan. We plan for that possible rainy day," said Pertone. " "I'm very much opposed to any amendment that is premature."

, which they called one of Huntington's best assets. At the meeting, Petrone and Berland promised a review of the arts cuts before a final decision would be made.

To cover an increase of $8.7 million in mandated costs, budget operating funds were reduced in three major areas including the general operating, highway department and refuse district budgets, according to Petrone.

Factors which most affected budget projections in major funds included employee contract agreements, state-mandated pension contributions and health insurance costs, rising energy prices and interest income.

The $10.1 million capital budget was approved by the Town Board Nov. 9.