Smart People Get The Facts

These facts were garnered from; three (3) public forums/panel discussions; twenty-seven (27) Freedom of Information Act (FOIAs) submitted to the Town and County; NYS Village Law; budgets from over a dozen Long Island Villages; reports from the NYS Comptroller’s office; and information found in local, national newspapers and magazines. Please read the articles, watch the experts on video, look over the budgets, read the village law, See sidebar for sources.

“Tax Neutral Villages” do not exist!

A new Village is another layer of government. Village homeowners will pay an additional $800 to $2,000 in property taxes per year for the same services now provided by the Town.

“Limited Service Villages” still cost more!

Highway/waste management/environmental protection/traffic safety; these departments, and others, are transferred to the Village and must be funded through Village property taxes.

Village Debt starts on day one!

Borrowing takes place immediately, to cover day-to-day operation of a Village. Homeowners start paying higher property taxes to the Village to cover these debts. Costly contracts must be negotiated.

Where is the Village feasibility study?

The proposed Village will have a population of more than12,000 residents, comparable in size to the Villages of Patchogue and Babylon. To date, the residents of Mastic Beach have not been provided with factual data to prove the claim that a Village will be “tax neutral”.

Why you will pay $800 to $2,000 more per year in property taxes!

A Village is RESPONSIBLE for roads & sidewalks

The Town will no longer maintain our roads and sidewalks. We will have to pay more and wait longer to get these same services.

A Village is RESPONSIBLE for garbage collection, recycling, storm debris clean-up, brush and leaf pickup.

The Town will no longer pick-up and dispose of this kind of debris. These services will not “stay” with the Town. The cost of these services will be calculated at overtime (OT) rates per employee, the cost of materials, plus Town “tipping fees” at the dump. We will have to pay more for services we already receive at a discount.

A Village is RESPONSIBLE for removal of dumped couches, appliances, boats, cars, motor homes, tires and debris etc.

The Town will no longer pick-up and dispose of this type of debris. A Village will also need to have an impound lot to process dumped vehicles and boats with the Department of Motor Vehicles.

A Village is RESPONSIBLE for maintaining storm drains and all waste water management

A Village must install, maintain, and clean-out any new or existing storm drains. They are also responsible for: all dredging, dredge spoils removal, and management of excess tidal & storm water on Village properties.

A Village is RESPONSIBLE for clean-up of neglected properties

This includes the boarding and securing of “blighted and abandoned properties,” as well as the removal of excessive yard waste. It is mandatory for a Village to employ: legal counsel, building and waste management investigators, fire marshals, animal control officers, and work crews when securing a property.

A Village is RESPONSIBLE for the maintenance, installation, and replacement of all street-lighting and traffic-safety devices

Outside traffic consultants and engineers are required, along with street-sign shops, electricians, traffic-safety device vendors, and technicians. These services must be provided by the Village at significantly higher costs—
in property tax dollars—than we now pay to the Town.

A Village is RESPONSIBLE for all code-enforcement

Code-enforcement by the Town includes work done by legal, building, and waste management investigators, public safety officers, attorneys, and outside counsel. On an annual basis, the Town of Brookhaven law department (law investigators and attorneys) spends close to $500,000 per year on code-enforcement in the 11951 zip code—at no additional cost to the residents of Mastic Beach. A majority of the fines and fees projected as Village income will be levied from residents of Mastic Beach to close the budget gap.

A Village is RESPONSIBLE for all planning & zoning functions, which are complex and costly

Planning and zoning functions require a multitude of paid professionals in planning, zoning, environmental protection, municipal code, and law. A Village is required to have a planning department, building & fire safety department, planning board, zoning board, zoning board of appeals, accessory apartment review board, and historic district advisory board. These departments are required by law and will be costly to taxpayers of the proposed Village.

The Town has established a Brookhaven Community Court

As of this year, the Town of Brookhaven Community Court is being provided for all residents without an additional tax. This court is designed especially to address quality-of-life code-enforcement violations, and eliminates the need for a Village court. In 2009-10, the Village of Babylon’s Village court expenses were $214,000, with $27,000 just for court office supplies. The Village of Babylon’s population is very close to the population of the proposed Village of Mastic Beach. How can we have a court for $35,000?

New Village Expenses Lead to Higher Property Taxes

• A new Village will have to take out a tax anticipation bond on their first day of incorporation to cover their first year’s operating and capital expenses.
• A new Village is responsible for all its official records from the mayor, trustees, Village clerk, treasurer, assessor, planning, building, environmental protection, zoning, fire marshals, law and code-enforcement departments, and the Village court. The costly storage and maintenance of all records for the proposed Village of more than 12,000 residents and 5,000 properties is required by law.
• A new Village will have overhead: computers, printers, software licensing, faxes, telephones, scanners, office furniture, desks, chairs, conference tables, book shelves, filing cabinets, etc.
• A new Village must have various types of insurance coverage and bonding for their elected officials and all employees, departments, and functions.
• A new Village must provide transportation and/or travel expenses for their employees, and reimburse many other expenses for their elected officials, appointees, and civil service workers.
• A new Village must pay for all mailing and printing expenses for Village code, public notices, tax bills, and for website creation/maintenance.
• A new Village must have a Village hall large enough to conduct Village business for more than 12,000 residents, including a Village courthouse.
• A new Village must pay for all costs associated with a Village court, including a Village justice, associate justice, court stenographer, outside legal counsel, and transcription of all court proceedings.
  

Village Press

What goes on in other Villages across Long Island?

Newsday, June 8, 2010 - Bellport Village
...town revenues, such as golf course fees and mortgage taxes, are down, Deputy Mayor and Village Trustee Fell said. "Revenue is down, and you have to replace the revenue and cut services," he said. "We've done a combination of both."

Newsday, May 3, 2010 - New Brookhaven Court
The court, called Brookhaven Community Court, operates one to two days a week and focuses solely on Brookhaven zoning and nuisance violations, such as dilapidated housing, illegal apartments and excessive noise. The court is located within Sixth District Court in Patchogue.

New York Times, March 25, 2010 - Hamlet's Eyesores Prompt a Revolt
Mr. Lesko suggested that the village proponents were being unrealistic, pointing out that a recent house condemnation required the removal of 40 tons of debris and the deployment of fire marshals, garbage inspectors, lawyers and even animal control officers (for a resident pit bull).

Newsday, June 10, 2009 - Village of Islandia
Islandia employee elected boss of himself, holding code enforcement job and trustee position at the same time. Authority on village law claims, “breach of state law.” Lawyer Prokof says “…is permitted to hold both jobs.”

LI Advance, Feb. 26, 2009 - Bellport Village
Mayor says taxes will rise to make up for lost revenue from golf course. Village bonds cost taxpayers $74,000 in interest this year, $88,000 next year.

Newsday, January 13, 2009 - Port Jefferson Village
Vote censures Port Jefferson Mayor for misleading village, and failing to keep the trustees informed of village business.

Newsday, January 9, 2009 - Asharoken Village
Villages loses 20 million dollar law suit after 13 years and 1.5
million dollars in court costs.

Newsday - Amityville Village
Village sued for 32 million dollars in federal discrimination law
suit.

Newsday, Dec. 4, 2008 - Hempstead Village
Poorest and most overtaxed village pays out 4.7 million dollars in 5 years to lawyers for legal work.

Newsday, November 28, 2008 - Greenport Village
Cops called for mayoral "tiff". Fighting over mounting debt and need to make expensive infrastructure repairs.

Newsday, July, 31, 2008 - Manorhaven Village
New mayor says former mayor changed zoning to benefit a few developers at the expense of the village and its waterfront.

Newsday, July 16, 2008 - Bellport Village
Mayor and Village trustees fight over free medical benefits.

Newsday, July 7, 2008 - Patchogue Village
Mayor takes guns away from code enforcement officers.
Village facing class action lawsuit to repay 10 years of tickets.
Village residents file class action law suit for rights violations
by code enforcement officers, village settles for 2 million
dollars in out of court settlement.

Newsday, June 17, 2008 - Patchogue Village
Mayor says village will have to raid surplus tax fund, or raise taxes to complete project, if it does not receive federal grant.

Suffolk Life, June 11, 2008 - Westhampton Beach Village
Three trustees making $5,000/yr and getting $17,000/yr
in health and dental benefits. $100,000 in benefits in two
years.

Suffolk Life, June 11, 2008 - Westhampton Dunes Village
Mayor’s wife is village treasurer!
Tax rates have gone up tremendously!
Taxes paying for avoidable litigation!

Suffolk Life, April 30, 2008
Paul Breschard Quote: "All one has to do is ride through Patchogue village to see what a difference incorporation makes." Neglecting to mention that Patchogue has been a village for over 100 years!

Smart People Get The Facts