Islip tax hike

"Breaking his promises and breaking faith." Croci criticized by former Supervisor

Sep

2012

Islip Town's 730-person workforce would shrink by 40 percent, or 240 workers, under a 2013 budget that includes a zero percent tax increase, a cut town Comptroller Joseph Ludwig said would be "devastating."

Ludwig's comments Thursday came during a special meeting of the town board, during which several key department heads -- including those from public works, public safety enforcement, and parks, recreation and cultural affairs -- presented proposed 2013 budgets 10 percent to 50 percent lower than 2012.

The presentations were at the behest of Supervisor Tom Croci, who is dealing with a projected $26 million deficit.

The pared-down budgets would have broad environmental, health-and-safety, and quality-of-life impacts, the department heads said, including the shuttering of all town...| read more ››

Islip town tax hike raises political ire

Nov

2012

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 ››