We know the 2015 preliminary budget for Smithtown was adopted by default last Thursday. But do we fully understand what this really means? We knew back in October at the public hearing, that the average homeowner would pay an estimated $1231.20 in taxes, which is an $11.66 increase from 2014. However, amendments made to the budget have changed that increase to $1253.24, $33.70, an increase over 60 percent from 2014. These amendments include dipping into Town Reserves (which could hurt the Bond Appraisal Rating), $120,000 in pay increases for Town employees, some of which are given in addition to union raises, allowing for three raises over the course of six months in 2015.
Translation Please:
Numbers and contract jargon can give most people, myself included, a sudden need for a nap. Let’s put this into a simple metaphor, we can all learn from.
How many times have we gone over our bank statements and found charges that end up as a part of a Banks Fine Print? Is it fair that a bank takes out $20 from your hard earned savings every month, which was never explained to you, however, it’s written somewhere in the middle of a hundred pages of terms and conditions? Some would argue that your customer service representative had an obligation to explain these fees to you before choosing to bank with them. Even the bank would argue that the representative was to blame. But who’s at fault when the Bank fails to notify the Representative of these charges? In the end, there is no accountability and you are still stuck without your $20, which you swallow, because it’s just 20 bucks. If you knew your bank did the same thing to 8500 account holders, would you put up more of an argument?
Councilmen Creighton and Wehrheim Voted against the 2015 Budget, due to a lack of communication, discussions or input from Council Members. Additional concerns that no written assurances of the adopted amendment requiring department transitions were made. The Councilmen were given no explanation, merely a notification, for salary increases, prior to being included into the proposed budget. Councilman Creighton raised red flags over the spending of Town Reserves, which would impact bond ratings, effecting the Towns interest rates in the future, in addition to creating a potentially large tax hike for future generations and current homeowners.
These issues have reoccured year after year with new and reused explanations. Still, a Community of well educated and successful taxpayers have sat idly by and allowed for history to repeat itself. If we continue to allow blackhat politics within our Town, it won’t be this Generation who will feel the brunt of the end results. Our Children will not be able to afford to return home to raise a family of their own.