2018 Adopted Budget

TOWN OF ISLIP 2018 ADOPTED BUDGET Angie M. Carpenter, Supervisor TOWN BOARD Steven J. Flotteron Trish Bergin Weichbrodt John C. Cochrane, Jr. Mary Kate Mullen Olga H. Murray, Town Clerk Alexis Weik, Receiver of Taxes OFFICE of the SUPERVISOR ANGIE M. CARPENTER Supervisor “Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.” ‐ Benjamin Franklin Message from Islip Supervisor Angie M. Carpenter As Islip Town Supervisor, my top priority continues to be to craft a fiscally sound, cost‐effective and transparent budget for our Town. When I took office in March of 2015, I immediately instituted a Capital Program for 2015, which had not been adopted the previous year, and called for total transparency in our Town government, and in the budget process. We adopted the budget and posted it on the Town of Islip website www.islipny.gov. One of my primary goals was to ensure Islip residents easy access to important and accurate information pertaining to how their tax dollars are spent, and what the Town of Islip is doing to manage revenue and expenses in the most efficient way possible. I am pleased that together, with the cooperation and support of the Town Board, we were able to establish a strong budget process. Working closely with our Commissioners, we strive to tighten department budgets as necessary, making certain that each and every taxpayer dollar spent is done with the utmost scrutiny. As a result of our fiscal stewardship, Moody’s upgraded the Town’s financial rating from Aa1 to Aaa with a “Stable Outlook”… that continues to this day. This is an accomplishment that everyone in Town of Islip government has a right to share. A Moody’s Aaa rating is the highest rating a municipality can achieve. The goal 1 remains to continue our fiscal prudence and maintain our Aaa rating. We are proud to report that recently, this bond rating upgrade was again reaffirmed by Moody’s. I am pleased to share this budget report for 2018, which not only provides the numbers, but also outlines the very important details and explanations of the Town’s operations. This report highlights departmental achievements, goals that have been implemented and achieved, as well as plans for the upcoming year. In addition, it provides information about some of the very important projects underway that we are pleased to report are currently nearing completion. The Town of Islip’s Capital Budget enables the Town to plan, budget and finance capital projects and acquisitions separate from its annual operating budget. The Capital Budget helps address much needed repairs to Town infrastructure such as roads, buildings, parks and marinas, some of which are long overdue. Protecting the safety of our residents remains a top priority, and Islip’s Public Safety and Code Enforcement continues to work to ensure the safety and well‐being of all residents and local businesses. Certainly, the costs associated with keeping our town, and the people in it safe, is money well spent. With this goal in mind, we have added needed additional public safety personnel. The Town has stabilized its workforce and is committed to paying its employees fairly to retain experienced and competent staff. The Town has implemented major budget improvements, under my encouragement, which benefits all. The Town is moving its quarterly budget and expenditure analysis toward monthly reporting. Overtime will continue to require preauthorization from the Supervisor’s office. The Town continues the implementation of a Parking Meter Program which has expanded to include the Bay Shore Rail Road Station, moving to Main Street, the Marinas and to other hamlet locations. This policy is fully enforced, and our goal remains to manage parking in an efficient manner ensuring proper turnover, and to make certain that the unprecedented success that downtown Bay Shore has experienced will continue. Through the efforts of the Town’s Office of Emergency Management, the Town has received Super Storm Sandy reimbursements totaling $17.5 million through FEMA and NYS, and another $2.1 million from insurance proceeds. 2 The Army Corps of Engineers has begun the rebuilding of the dunes throughout the entire Town, without any local share contribution. The Islip Town portion of the Fire Island dune restoration project is nearly 100% complete. We continue to examine all Town fees, making adjustments where appropriate, keeping us in line with other comparable towns. All major town initiatives will also undergo a cost‐benefit analysis. We are exploring new and enhanced revenue sources, including efforts to identify opportunities of outside funding through grants whenever possible, along with the implementation of electronic solutions for operations‐known as ACH electronic payment system, or P‐Card payments. Our team has renegotiated interest rates with banks, as we have added depositories with more favorable rates, and are constantly monitoring accounts to maximize our interest earnings. The Town has actively participated in the Governor’s Shared Services Initiative, highlighting areas where the Town has shared services and identifying other opportunities going forward. The Town continues with our plans to re‐build Roberto Clemente Park in Brentwood, which was reopened late this summer, and continues to be a top priority. Two million dollars in state funding was made available for a Water Spray Park at Roberto Clemente Park, and the restoration of the swimming pool is well underway. We remain committed to transforming this park into a premier attraction, not just for those in Brentwood, but for the entire Islip community. With the adoption of this budget, our Department of Public Works will be paving and resurfacing throughout the town this year, and are pleased to report that the following projects have been completed: All handicapped ramps and the parking lot at Higbie Lane Recreation/Senior Center. New curbs and sidewalks, and the parking lot repaved at Ronkonkoma Beach. The parking lots at Sayville Beach, and the West Islip Marina have been resurfaced. Within the last couple of weeks, resurfacing has begun at Byron Lake Park parking lot. 3 The Brentwood Recreation and Senior Center will see new curbs, sidewalks, drainage and parking lot resurfacing. Drainage projects throughout the Town, including the continuation of the Middlesex area in Oakdale, will be also addressed. This year, a new playground was unveiled at Byron Lake, and two new cedar shake roofs have replaced outdated roofing on the Church and the Robinson House at The Grange in Sayville. We have also finally fulfilled the promise to restore the playground at Atlantique destroyed by Super Storm Sandy in 2012. Residents, visitors, our summer day campers and employees, are now greeted by a lovely Pirate Ship playground, as well as a refurbished marina, and other improved amenities in addition to docking options. The Town will continue with the upgrading of all of the bathroom and shower facilities in Atlantique, including repainting the entire Marina. We have also introduced free WiFi, and residents have been able to conveniently book some boat slips online. I am committed to smart, forward‐thinking Town government, with a strong, experienced management team, working cooperatively with other elected officials and municipalities on a bipartisan basis. The Town is initiating a new and major effort to closely monitor and analyze monthly expenses and revenues to ensure budget compliance. We have implemented a yearly review of management practices and procedures to ensure fiscal stability. Town management has implemented and institutionalized controls and procedures to strengthen oversight and improve transparency. We have combined our Department of Public Works with our Parks Department, which maximizes our resources in a cost‐effective manner. Our Division of Code Enforcement has joined forces with the Town Attorney’s office. The combination of these two divisions is designed to streamline the enforcement process and ensures continuity, within one cohesive division. Economic development has continued to grow in the Town of Islip, and is largely a result of the Industrial Parks. The industrial real estate market is strong in sales and leases. According to one of the nation’s leading Real Estate consultants, Newmark, 4 Grubb, Knight and Frank, in their Fourth Quarter Report last year said, “Long Island enjoys continued brisk real estate activity on available industrial buildings. This demand is a result of an exodus of companies from the Brooklyn and Queens market.” Economic Development in the Town of Islip is very brisk. The number of active projects handled at Islip’s Industrial Development Agency over the past two years has surpassed any previous two‐year period in the history of the 42 year‐old agency. These projects have invested more than $250,000,000 in private sector money into Islip Town creating and saving more than 4,000 jobs. The Planning Department includes the Town’s Building Department, which I am pleased to report, is now open until 7 pm one night a week to accommodate our residents. The extended hours enable residents to secure swimming pool permits, solar panel permits and building permits, as well as address any other department‐ related matters without having to take time off from work. There are many exciting projects in Islip…major construction projects in the Town of Islip currently underway include a $25 million, 220,000/sf perfume distribution facility in Ronkonkoma; a two‐building pharmaceutical manufacturing and bottling facility in Central Islip totaling 340,000/sf with a private investment of $44 million; and a 125,000/sf automotive tire distribution facility in Hauppauge. To address the housing needs of the younger generation just starting out, and our seniors looking to downsize, nine new apartment complexes have been approved in the Town of Islip. Islip Town is primarily residential in nature, however, 5,600 acres are zoned for industrial use.

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