Islip town tax hike raises political ire
The leader of the Islip Town Democratic Committee says his group plans to examine "from top to bottom" the town's recently approved 2013 operating budget, which includes a 28-percent property tax increase and employee layoffs.
Gerry Pallotta, president of the committee, called the tax increase, which passed unanimously last week, "unprecedented," and said town taxpayers deserve a full accounting of what the Republican and Conservative party-dominated board cut from the budget.
"It shakes the trust of the taxpayers," Pallotta said.
At least 22 full-time employees are scheduled to lose their jobs, and at least another couple of dozen part-time guards at the town's marinas will be out of work, town officials have said, adding that they still are finalizing the...| read more ››