Brookhaven Town budget hikes taxes 1.7%, relies on $30M in landfill revenue

Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico has filed a 2027 budget plan that would raise taxes by 1.7% and draws on $30 million in fees from the town landfill, which is expected to close in two years.

The $381.8 million tentative Brookhaven budget contains no new spending programs and no cuts to services, Panico said.

The town plans to hold spending in check by reducing staffing by attrition and focusing on core services such as parks, trash collection, public safety and environmental protection.

Brookhaven pierced the cap two years ago, when town officials anticipated a sharp drop in landfill revenues caused by the decision to stop accepting debris from construction and demolition sites. That debris had accounted for about 60% of waste deposited at the landfill.

Landfill revenue has stabilized since then and is expected to remain "essentially flat" next year, Panico said in an interview Friday at Town Hall in Farmingville.

"There are no phantom revenues" in the budget proposal, Panico said at a news conference announcing the budget Friday. He added the town does not plan to dip into reserves to balance the budget. "This is as clean a budget ... [as] you will find anywhere in Suffolk County."

Earlier last week, Panico and other Suffolk County town supervisors had called on state officials to consider tweaking the state tax cap formula, arguing expenses such as state-mandated employee healthcare premiums and pension contributions make it nearly impossible to stay within the cap.

Brookhaven's budget bucks the trend in some other towns this fall that have proposed steep tax hikes. Huntington released a budget calling for an 18% increase in the tax levy. East Hampton's spending plan for next year carries a 7% bump in the levy, while Southampton's increase is 9%.

Panico said Brookhaven was able to come in under the cap because of prudent budget practices in recent years. He noted the town's decision to eliminate the seven-member Planning Board and five-member Accessory Apartment Review Board two years ago had saved the town $30,000 in salaries.

"We are running extremely lean in the Town of Brookhaven," he said.

Brookhaven town taxes went up an average 1.43% in 2026.

Elected officials would receive 2.5% raises next year. 

Landfill revenues should remain flat next year at $30 million, only slightly less than the $31 million collected in 2025 from tipping fees paid by carters, according to budget figures. Landfill fees this year totaled $20.2 million through August, the budget shows. 

The landfill accepts ash from waste-to-energy incinerators, as well as street sweepings and stripped auto parts from salvage yards. 

Landfill revenues had dropped 37.2%, from $50.2 million in 2024 to $31.5 million in 2025, after the town stopped accepting construction and demolition debris. 

Town officials are preparing for another steep drop in landfill revenue with the dump's closure, which is slated for around August 2028, Panico said. At that time, New Jersey incinerator operator Reworld is expected to ship ash to landfills off Long Island, though the company has not announced its plans.

Panico said he is not concerned that Reworld will shift ash shipments away from Brookhaven before the landfill closes.

"We are still the most financially beneficial option for them," Panico said.

He added the town expects to make up some of the lost landfill revenue from other sources, such as an anticipated $6 million in annual payments for hosting a power cable from the 924-megawatt Sunrise Wind power project under construction off the South Shore.

"We have a plan going forward," Panico said.

Next year's budget also sets aside $200,000 for a reserve fund to cover landfill maintenance costs after it closes. That brings the fund's total reserves to $30 million, Panico said. 

By Carl MacGowan

carl.macgowan@newsday.comCarlMacGowan

Carl MacGowan is a Long Island native who covers Brookhaven Town after having previously covered Smithtown, Suffolk County courts and numerous spot news and feature stories over his 20-plus year career at Newsday.