Riverhead presents 2027 tentative budget that stays under tax cap

Supervisor Jerry Helpin presented the Town of Riverhead's 2027 tentative operating budget, saying the plan stays inside the town's tax-cap and increases total appropriations to $116,864,850. "We will not be piercing the tax cap with this tentative budget," Helpin said during the special board meeting on Sept. 24, 2026.

Helpin told the board the tentative budget adds $2.9 million in expenditures compared with 2026's adopted figures, a net growth of $4,142,096 over 2026. He framed the change in everyday terms, saying the increase equals about $0.28 per day for a property assessed at $800,000 and that residential waste charges would rise by less than one cent per day. The presentation named salaries, benefits, retirement and training among the largest appropriation categories and emphasized the budget's aim to balance taxpayer relief with investments in town services.

The presentation closed with thanks to department heads and staff for their work in preparing the document. Following the reading, a motion to close the special meeting was made and seconded; the board voted to move into a work session at 10:30 a.m.