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Serving CentereaCh
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northern lake grove
December 03, 2015
Town adopts 2016 operating budget By giSelle Barkley
Dickens Festival turns 20
also: Celebrating Hanukkah, ‘a Christmas Carol’ at CMPaC, ‘Barnaby Saves Christmas’
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Town of Brookhaven officials and residents have one less thing to worry about next year, now that the 2016 budget has been finalized. On Nov. 19, the town board approved Supervisor Ed Romaine’s nearly $281 million proposed operating budget, which complies with the New York State cap on tax levy increases — in fact holding it, and thus residents’ property taxes, steady next year. According to a previous interview with Finance Commissioner Tamara Wright, who helped Romaine (R) craft the budget, the town accomplished this by properly managing its capital projects and by satisfying debts. Earlier this year, the town finished paying off an $8.4
million debt connected to the New York State employees’ retirement system, allowing the town to save about $1 million annually. But its efforts to reduce debt will not end there — going forward, Romaine said, the town will continue addressing that issue and prioritizing expenditures. “You should not spend money you do not have,” he said. “We’re very much aware of that, and we’re monitoring all of our expenses very carefully.” Some funds that would have gone toward the completed debt payments will instead be used to fund other parts of the budget in 2016. The budget also allocates $5.2 million for the highway department’s snow removal budget, a number that has been incrementally increas-
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Photo by giselle Barkley
Brookhaven Town supervisor Ed romaine listens to residents’ concerns before adopting the 2016 operating budget.
ing since Long Island communities had to dig out of dense snow in the February 2013 blizzard commonly dubbed Winter Storm Nemo, which shut down some roads for days. Brookhaven’s snow removal funding has doubled
in the last few years. If there is leftover money in that account after the winter, the goal is to deposit it into a reserve account that would be used in an emergency winter BUDgeT continued on page a11
Police up patrols at Planned Parenthood Solar
North Shore residents say no to solar farm proposal
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Photo by Jared Cantor
smithtown is one of five Planned Parenthood clinics in suffolk County. By Phil Corso
A deadly shooting at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado has spurred Suffolk County into action, with a growing police presence surrounding similar clinics in Huntington and
Smithtown. Robert Lewis, 57, allegedly opened fire at a Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood clinic on Nov. 27, killing three and injuring nine, according to published reports in the Associated Press. And while the horrific scene may
Planned Parenthood locations in Suffolk County, the department will enhance patrols and remain in contact with other law enforcement agencies for the most up-todate information regarding the potential for similar attacks,” the department said in a statement. Planned Parenthood clinics also operate in Patchogue, Riverhead and West Islip. When reached for comment, both the Huntington and Smithtown Planned Parenthood clinics deferred to a statement from Reina Schiffrin, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic, who spoke of grief for those affected by the horrific shooting. “The hearts of the staff at Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic are with the families
of the victims of this senseless tragedy, as well as our colleagues across the country and particularly PP of the Rocky Mountains,” she said. “The safety and security of our patients and staff has always been our top priority, and we are very grateful to the Suffolk County Police for their response to this event and for expanding their presence at our five health centers in Suffolk County. Our doors remain open and we will continue to provide high quality health care to the women, men and teens of Suffolk County.” Suffolk County cops also teamed up with Planned Parenthood administrators this week to offer crime prevention training, the department said in a statement. The goal of the crime PaReNTHOOD continued on page a11