What does this mean?  What does it mean to incorporate the Village of East Quogue?  Watch this short video or read the below to learn more about the possibilities for the Village of East Quogue.

 

We envision a Village like the Village of Sagaponack. A small non-partisan, unpaid Village Government of East Quogue, elected by the people of East Quogue. This would include a Mayor, Four Trustees and Three Appointed Volunteer Boards.

The Village of East Quogue would be a thin layer of local government, but with significant local control like the Village of Sagaponack, which was successfully formed in 2007.

Most services would continue as they are now, like the Police support through the Southampton Town Police Department.  Any inefficient services would be reviewed to see what improvements can be made, thus keeping costs for Village residents as low as possible.  A careful review of area Village budgets suggests that we can have this local control for $.10/$1,000 of assessed valuation or less.  That means that the average taxpayer in East Quogue will pay about $50 a year for local control of the Village.

-We will have a strong voice in the Town of Southampton
-Local press will have to pay attention to our Village
-We will have direct community outreach and local presence
-We will have support from State and County Village Mayor Associations
-We can have direct communications with Albany/NYS

We will have a say in what happens in East Quogue, inside and outside of Southampton Town.

Southampton Town only controls the zoning of unincorporated areas, including Hampton Bays, East Quogue, Remsenburg, Speonk, Noyac, Bridgehampton and other others outside of Village Territories.  These are the areas where they can change the community character through zoning decisions, including density increases or change of use.

Only the Villages are in control of their planning and zoning.  The Villages are organized and they are getting the majority of Town investments from the Town’s Community Preservation Funds.  East Quogue is getting nothing.

PROPOSED VILLAGE BOUNDARY

New York State Village Incorporation Law states that a village area has to be less than 5 square miles or be co-terminus with an existing district like a school or fire district. East Quogue is over 8 square miles, not including water/bays and in order to cover everyone to the West outside of the Village of Quogue and to the East in the EQUFSD, we have combined two existing districts into the proposed boundary.

The East Quogue School District + the Northern Fire District = everyone in 11942 zip code + others in the East Quogue school district.  The Northern Fire District includes the Wildlife One and The Woodlands developments off of Route 104.  The East Quogue School District goes from Sportime north and east to a little past Jones Road.

 

Services that will stay the same but will be negotiated contracts by the VillageVILLAGE SERVICES

Southampton Town Police Department
Southampton Town Highway Department
Southampton Town Parks Department
East Quogue Fire District

North East Fire Protection District

School Districts stay the same – they are managed by the State

Everything will stay the same except for the creation of our own Planning and Zoning boards, our own Village Building Department and additional Village Code Enforcement.  This will allow us to retain local revenues from building and other permitting, which will fund our local Village government.  We plan to adopt the same, extensive Comprehensive Plan from the Town of Southampton’s Comprehensive Plan which reflects about 50 years of comprehensive planning for our Hamlet.

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

Based on a similar approach to government in the Village of Sagaponack, we estimate that our mostly volunteer government will cost about $800,000/year, of which $600,000+ will be paid for by mortgage tax revenue, permit revenue, revenue sharing with County and Town entities and grants. The expenses are for a Village Clerk/treasurer, contract services for planning and legal needs, rent for the Village Hall, building department and code enforcement support and other revenue-related expenses.  We also used current actual revenues like building permit revenues to the Town of Southampton from the East Quogue school district.  So the draft budget is a thoughtful reflection of actual costs and revenues.  We also plan to time revenues and expenses to be coincident to minimize cost to taxpayers.

So local control of our Village would cost you an additional $.10/$1,000 of assessed value.  For someone with a $500,000 assessed value, that means $50/year additional tax for the Village to operate.  All current taxes and taxing districts stay the same.  Want to read the details?  Click here. Village of East Quogue Draft Budget 2020-2021 Want to read about the rest of your taxes?  See this Southampton Town Tax Sheet: Tax Rate Sheet 2018-2019.  Here is an example of a current tax bill items and rates currently, and how it would change as a Village. Tax Impact EQUFSD Tax Bill

HOW DOES INCORPORATION HAPPEN?

We need at least 20% of all qualified voters in East Quogue to support the incorporation petition.  Once the petition is validated, there will be a public hearing through the Town and a special election will be set.  The simple majority rules in the special election.  If successful, the Village Clerk/treasurer is then appointed and another election is set to elect the non-partisan, volunteer Village Board.

WHY DO PROPERTY VALUES INCREASE IN INCORPORATED VILLAGES?

Property values are generally 15-20% higher in incorporated Villages than in unincorporated areas because of the value of local control and the focus on local issues.  In the Town of Southampton, property values in incorporated Villages are generally higher than in unincorporated areas.   Villages control their land use decisions which are generally tied to the highest portion of your taxes – your local school district.  Higher density drives more needs for services which increases taxes.  The Village of East Quogue would work to maintain the quality of life in East Quogue by maintaining low density and low taxes.  The highest tax rates in the Town of Southampton, are in the unincorporated areas of Eastport, Flanders/Riverside, Hampton Bays and East Quogue.  Some of the lowest tax rates are in the Villages.

DRAFT VILLAGE BUSINESS PLAN

Year One
Hire Village Clerk/Treasurer (paid position) and find location for small Village Hall (donated?)
Elect Mayor and Trustees (volunteer positions)
Appoint volunteer boards (volunteer positions)
Adopt Comprehensive Plan
Create Planning and Building Departments/Resources

Year Two
Further refine the organization and future goals with community input

Year Three
Assess all Village services to recommend optimized inter-municipal agreements and services

Every volunteer on the committee is a resident. There are parents with kids in school, empty nesters, retirees, new families and others. We are business people, teachers, tradesmen, real estate professionals and volunteers in the community. We have been active in East Quogue serving on the Board of Education, the Chamber of Commerce, the Citizens Advisory Committee, local and charitable organizations, running youth programs and sports programs and volunteering in all aspects of East Quogue life.

What we all have in common is a belief that becoming the Village of East Quogue will enhance our community’s quality of life and will protect the future for our Village.

Co-Chairs

David Celi and Karen Kooi

Committee Members

Brian Babcock, Richard Blowes, Greg Celi, Sharon Celi, Maria Daddino, Kristen Hanyo, Patrick “Skip” Heaney, Jessica Insalaco, Kate Johnson, Walter Marsicovetere, Cyndi McNamara, Cathy Seeliger, Ed Seltenreich.