Riverhead Town Supervisor Jerry Halpin’s tentative 2027 budget proposes $120.96 million in spending across the town’s operating funds.
Spending in the three townwide funds — general, highway and street lighting — would increase $3.29 million, or 4.23%, from the 2026 adopted budget, reaching $81.25 million.
The combined tax levy for those three funds would increase $1.7 million, or 2.79%, to $62.88 million. The budget lists their combined tax rate at $73.224 per $1,000 of assessed value, up from $71.598 in 2026. Taxes for
special districts may also apply to individual properties.
The general fund, the town’s largest operating fund, would grow $2.9 million to $72.01 million. The highway fund would rise $366,792 to $8.29 million. Police spending in the general fund would increase from $22.39 million to $23.24 million, while the highway fund’s snow-removal allocation would increase from $300,000 to $475,000.
In a message accompanying the proposal, Halpin said a retirement incentive accepted by three CSEA members and seven PBA members would save the general fund $819,000 in 2027. He said reductions in salaries, payroll taxes and retirement contributions would be partly offset by higher retiree health insurance costs.
Halpin said the budget seeks to address difficulty attracting and retaining employees at entry-level wages. It would move 64 employees up two steps on the salary scale in the seniors, highway, and buildings and grounds departments, he said. The proposal also budgets 76 merit raises in all, including those 64 employees, nine promotional raises, six new full-time positions and two new part-time positions.
The tentative budget includes no raises in salaries for elected officials.
“The goal of this Tentative Budget is clear — provide financial relief for tax payers while bolstering opportunities for increased employee retention at the lower end of the pay scale,” Halpin wrote in his Sept. 24 budget message. “I believe this budget addresses both goals,” he added.
The proposal would use $950,000 of general fund balance, $300,000 less than the 2026 adopted budget. The figures are preliminary; the Town Board will review the tentative budget before adopting a final spending plan.
The figures are preliminary. The Town Board will review the supervisor’s tentative budget before adopting a final spending plan. A closer look at the proposal’s revenue estimates, fund balances and district budgets will follow.
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