Friday, March 28, 2025
For the 12th consecutive year, the Village of Freeport has passed its budget without a tax rate increase, continuing its record of fiscal stability under Mayor Robert Kennedy.
The $85.4 million budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year was approved by the Board of Trustees on Jan. 13 and will sustain vital services, including fire, police, electric, and water, for Freeport’s 45,000 residents.
The approved budget will be active from March 1, 2025, through February 28, 2026.
“When we say we are not raising taxes, we mean a zero levy and zero tax rate,” said Village Attorney Howard Colton. “The mayor and trustees have been able to hold the line on taxes in multiple ways, but mostly by looking at every single dollar and making sure it is going further.”
Mayor Kennedy noted that despite significant mandated cost increases from New York State—including pensions, medical insurance, and workers’ compensation,—his administration has kept taxes flat.
“Between CSEA, PBA, medical, retirement, workers’ compensation, liability—these are mandated increases that we’ve absorbed,” Kennedy said. “And we haven’t raised the taxes once in 12 years.”
A key strategy has been the village’s focus on economic development. Kennedy pointed to the redevelopment of properties like the Moxie Rigby complex, which previously paid no property taxes but now contributes revenue to the village.
Looking ahead, he highlighted a major new project: “The Hilton Garden Inn down on Nautical Mile, that’ll significantly increase revenue, property tax revenue,” he said, adding that the hotel is expected to be completed and open by 2026.
Grants have also played a crucial role in balancing the budget.
“It’s a combination of grants and economic development,” Kennedy explained. “Grants and additional property tax have compensated for the increased mandated expenses that we have.”
The village has secured several grants, including $1.2 million for an expansion of the police department’s Office of Emergency Management building, a grant for six new police cars from Nassau County amounting to $300,000, as well as $300,000 from the Assembly, and $200,000 for a new police boat.
As a result of Freeport’s financial strategy, the village has strengthened its reserves while cutting its debt nearly in half.
“We increased our reserves here in the village from $1.2 million to $39 million in the last 12 years,” Kennedy said. “We reduced our debt from $160 million to $76 million.”
The village has also made significant investments in public safety. “We brought up police from 77 to 107 police officers,” Kennedy said. “(We) decreased crime by 58 percent.”
Freeport was also the first police department in New York State to mandate body cameras for all patrol officers.
Infrastructure has remained a priority, with Kennedy noting that “we repaved over 117 roads” and made major investments in flood mitigation, including the remodeling of seven catch basins, each costing approximately $250,000.
The new budget was made available for public review before its passing by the Board of Trustees, with residents having the opportunity to discuss it at a public hearing.
As Freeport continues to develop new revenue sources and secure grants, Kennedy remains optimistic about the village’s financial outlook.
“The village is in very good financial standing,” he concluded.
