Village of Quogue Releases Tentative Budget; Breaches Tax Cap

Quogue of Quogue Mayor Peter Sartorius has released his $7.4 million tentative budget that breaches the state's two percent tax cap by .67 percent.

In presenting the budget on Monday morning, Sartorius said there were certain budget increases that the village has no control over, including contracts, and state benefits and retirement funds. 

"There is no surprise there," Satorius said. "The largest increase is driven by the state pension fund."

With that in mind, Satorius said he was as prudent as possible while drafting the budget, replacing retiring worker salary lines with lower saleried people.

According to Satorius, the budget, as it stands now, reflects a$173,000 or 2.4 percent increase in spending over the last budget cycle with an expected increase in revenue of $10,000.

To fund the budget, the village is looking increase property taxes by 2.67 percent.

In order to breach the tax cap, the village was required to pass a local law that allows village trustees to vote to breach the cap. That local law was approved by village board members in mid-February.

A public hearing on the mayor's tentative budget will be held on April 13 at 4 p.m. If adopted taxpayers are looking at $1.92 increase in taxes per assessed value.