Town Board Members Debate Proposed 2011 Budget

Councilman Mark Mayoka questioned the preliminary budget for 2011 for the Town of Huntington at Tuesday night's meeting, leading with allocations of funds and preliminary spending figures.

Mayoka said the figures for the 2011 preliminary budget exceed the estimated 2010 expenditures of $184-million by $300,000. Supervisor Frank Petrone explained that the projected spending for the 2010 budget is $184-million, however, that is an $800,000 decrease from the last preliminary budget.

Mayoka said that his concerns also extend to the "marginal reduction in the highway tax fund," which he said is "prejudicial to many residents in that it excludes residents of the villages of Northport, Asharoken, Huntington Bay and Lloyd Harbor."

Petrone said these residents are paying into their Village highway funds as well as Town of Huntington funds and so do pay to maintain the town roads they share with Huntington residents.

Petrone said that the Capital Fund will show an increase in the Highway budget as many of the projects are contracted to outside employees, and not done by the Town itself, allowing them to cut the extra positions within the Town's budget.

Mayoka also proposed that "departments should be consolidated, existing vendor contracts should be renegotiated, current town employees should be cross trained so as to be able to perform multiple functions within their department and other departments, and that standards for funding of outside agencies be established to ensure that funds are spent appropriately."

Petrone welcomed suggestions from the council and stated that the budget has not yet been approved and that meetings to discuss these issues can be arranged. 

The council will meet again to vote on the 2011 operating budget for the Town of Huntington on Nov. 4 at Town Hall.