Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone proposed a $2.97 billion 2016 budget that stays with New York State's 2% property tax cap.
The fiscal plan for the Long Island county that Bellone announced Sept. 18 is a 1% increase from the current budget and freezes general fund taxes for a fourth straight year. The Democratic county executive credits not having to raise taxes in large part to improved efficiency achieved by cutting positions through a merger of the treasurer and comptroller offices. The budget also contains $1.5 million geared toward a partnership with the Town of Islip for Long Island MacArthur Airport aimed at spurring new routes and spurring economic development.
"This budget continues to move Suffolk County in the right direction by holding the line on taxes, streamlining government and making smart investments in growing our economy," said Bellone in a statement.
Suffolk County is rated A3 by Moody's Investors Service. It had a population of around 1.5 million in the 2010 Census.
