Deerpark Supervisor Karl A. Brabenec presented his 2015 tentative budget to the Deerpark Town Board this week proposing a 0.01% decrease in the tax levy for 2015. This is the fifth consecutive budget presented by Brabenec which has come in at either a 0% change or below. The supervisor also serves as the town’s budget officer and is responsible for putting together a tentative budget every year.
“In previous years, the town board has been able to restructure town operations to achieve cost savings and optimal efficiency in operations and put additional money into our reserve accounts for future planning. We are realizing the benefits now of these initiatives as we are able to keep costs down and provide a stable budget for the taxpayers of the town,” said Brabenec in his annual budget message to the town board “Our town, along with all municipalities in New York State, is still bound by a state-imposed tax levy cap of 2%. This budget not only achieves that mandate but goes further by lowering the tax levy by 0.01%.”
The tentative budget is still subject to review and change by recommendations of the Deerpark Town Board and New York State Comptroller’s Office. Changes to the tentative budget may be considered by the board and a preliminary budget will be adopted on October 6th. In addition, a public hearing will be held in the beginning of November. A final budget must be voted on and adopted by November 20th.
Highlights of the tentative budget include funding for senior citizen activities, youth programs and municipal park upgrades and maintaining increased funding for road re-pavement. In addition, it provides for funding to begin construction of a proposed police department annex to the town hall building. State grants totaling $100,000 were secured this past year with the help of State Senator John J. Bonacic to help fund the project and town officials hope to break ground soon and have the project completed by the end of 2015.
