Riverhead Town’s proposed 2024 operating budget and a local law authorizing the town to pierce the 2% tax levy cap will be the subject of a pair of public hearings on Thursday, Nov. 9.
The proposed budget calls for a tax levy increase of 4.86% to support spending of just over $69.4 million in the three town-wide funds, a 5.5% spending increase over 2023. The three town-wide funds are the general fund, the highway fund and the street lighting district fund.
The tax rate per $1,000 of assessed property value would rise to $62.319 per thousand in 2024, up from $59.613 per thousand this year. Assessed value is a fraction of current market value. The supervisor’s budget document states that an “average” home in Riverhead has a market value of $538,000 and an assessed value of $50,000. That home would see a property tax increase of $135.50 to cover the three town-wide funds.
Additional town taxes are levied on properties located within the water district, sewer district, garbage district, ambulance district, and public parking district, to cover the expenses of those districts. Proposed total spending, including these districts and the three town-wide funds, would top $111.3 million in 2024.
MORE COVERAGE: Aguiar’s proposed 2024 budget: $5.5 million town-wide spending increase, 4.9% tax levy hike, piercing cap
The proposed budget remains unchanged from Supervisor Yvette Aguiar’s tentative budget proposal filed Sept. 30. Town Board members have not proposed any changes to her tentative budget nor have they publicly discussed the budget since Aguiar filed it with the town clerk, as required by state law.
State law also requires the town to hold a hearing on the proposed budget on or before the Thursday following the general election. Since the general election is Tuesday, Nov. 7, the board must hold the hearing no later than Nov. 9 this year.
To adopt a budget that exceeds the state-imposed 2% tax levy limit, the Town Board must pass a local law, with a supermajority vote, authorizing the town to override the tax levy limit.
Both hearings, which were made part of one resolution during Tuesday’s meeting, are scheduled for Nov. 9 at 2 p.m.. The Nov. 9 meeting will be held at the new Town Hall, located at 4 West Second Street.
After the hearing, the Town Board may amend the preliminary budget. The Town Board must adopt a final budget for next fiscal year by Nov. 20. If the Town Board fails to adopt the budget by that time, the preliminary budget becomes the final adopted budget for the next fiscal year.
Public hearing set for proposed five-story building on West Main Street
The board set a public hearing on the site plan application for a five-story mixed-use apartment building proposed for a wooded lot on the corner of West Main Street and Sweezy Avenue.
Jericho-based developer Georgica Green Ventures is looking for approval to construct a 58-foot 7-inch tall building with 5,700-square-feet of ground floor commercial space and 133 market-rate apartments on upper floors.
MORE COVERAGE: Plans aired for new mixed-use apartment building on West Main Street
The building is located within the town’s Railroad Avenue Urban Renewal Area Overlay District which was established in January 2021 by the town to incentivize development in the blighted area near the train station.
Riverhead Planner Greg Bergman said at a recent work session that the building’s construction will require the installation of a traffic light at the intersection of West Main Street and Sweezy Avenue, as well as an eastbound left turn lane at the intersection.
The board also assumed lead agency status and issued a negative declaration pursuant to the State Environmental Quality Review Act for the site plan application, determining the proposed development will have no significant negative environmental impacts with the implementation of mitigation measures.
The public hearing will take place during the Town Board’s meeting on Nov. 9 at 2 p.m..
Late Riverhead fire chief honored by Town Board
The Town Board issued a proclamation honoring William Charles Kelly Sr. of Riverhead, who died in June. Kelly was a longtime former member of the Riverhead Volunteer Fire Department. He served as fire chief and on the Riverhead Board of Fire Commissions from 2001 until he died. Last year, Kelly was awarded the 2022 Commissioner of the Year from the Suffolk County Fire District Officers Association.
In other action at the Oct. 4 meeting, the Town Board:
- Promoted Riverhead Police Officer Giuseppe Rosini to a sergeant in the Riverhead Police Department.
- Scheduled a public hearing for Nov. 9 on the allocation of $215,000 of 2024 community development block grant money. The funds may be used for a “variety of projects that benefit low- and moderate-income persons, aid in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight and/or meet a need having a particular urgency.” Examples of eligible activities include: housing rehabilitation; elimination of physical barriers to the handicapped; public facilities and improvements; street improvements; public service activities; and neighborhood improvement programs. Written comments will be accepted until Nov. 24.
- Established and appointed members to the Town of Riverhead Outreach and Services Committee that will support the town’s efforts to inform people about counseling and support services for victims of victims of violent crime, abuse, sexual assault and domestic violence.
- Held a public hearing on a local law to limit the sale of lithium ion battery products, including e-bikes and electric scooters. The proposed code would require that lithium ion batteries, chargers and adapters sold in the town be certified by Underwriters Laboratories, a longstanding private science safety company whose testing and safety standards for lithium batteries are recommended by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. A recent amendment to the proposal prohibits the modification of electric bicycles and scooters, “unless such alteration, change, enhancement or modification is consistent with the applicable certification standard and manufacturer’s instructions.”
- Held a public hearing on a local law to allow parking by permit only on stretches of several town roads near town waterfront access points: Adelia Path; Sound Shore Road; Smuggler’s Path; Crow’s Nest Drive; Eight Bells Road; Hornpipe Drive; Nautical Drive; and Treasure Drive.
- Authorized the suspension of an unnamed police officer without pay against whom disciplinary charges have been filed by the chief of police.
- Adopted a local law to increase fire prevention permit fees.
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