Smithtown Work Session: Parking Permits, Tax Exemptions, Highway – Feb 12, 2026
Smithtown Town Board Work Session – February 12, 2026
The Smithtown Town Board held a work session on February 12, 2026, to discuss a proposed digital parking permit system (SmartPass), new state tax exemptions, highway department tree removal coordination, fleet repair budget concerns, and other administrative matters. No formal votes were taken on agenda items, but board members agreed to further discuss and consider decisions by early March.
Discussion Items
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Digital Parking Permits (SmartPass Initiative): The Supervisor introduced a proposal to replace the current physical decal system with a license plate-based digital system for town parks, beaches, and facilities. Residents would register online (or in-person) and pay a $5 processing fee per vehicle; seniors aged 65+ and veterans receive a 100% off coupon code. Caregivers and home nurses can obtain placards for the resident they assist. The system would eliminate gate guards, stickers, and mailings, with estimated annual savings of approximately $300,000. A portion of savings would address budget deficits in Public Safety. The town would need to purchase two additional license plate readers from savings. The rollout target is April 1, 2026, requiring a board decision by early March. Board members discussed including credit card processing fees into the total fee.
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New York State Tax Exemptions (Public Hearings Scheduled): Lou (Assessor’s office) provided an overview of four new or amended exemptions effective in 2026 for the December tax bill:
- Over 65 Exemption (amended): Lowers maximum income threshold from $50,000 to $47,000, allowing up to 65% exemption on household income. Estimated average impact on town taxes: $9 per household; on school district taxes: approximately $100 per household.
- Alternative Veterans Exemption (for 100% disabled veterans): Requires a 100% service-connected disability, VA unemployability rating, and eligibility for a VA special housing grant. Likely only a small number of veterans qualify. State forms and documentation requirements not yet released.
- Surviving Spouses of Police Officers Killed in Line of Duty: Up to 50% exemption. Effective January 1, 2026, but no state form yet; a technical amendment pending governor’s signature may clarify filing deadlines.
- Active Military Service Exemption: For active-duty members with permanent duty station in New York and serving in a combat zone. A 25% exemption limited by equalized value ($20,000 × equalization rate). Current equalization rate ~0.8%, resulting in minimal impact. The board discussed outreach to veterans’ organizations and schools to avoid past criticism of not notifying school districts. Public hearings will be on the next board meeting agenda; if uncontested, they can be adopted that day.
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Highway Tree Removal Coordination: Robert (Highway Department) reported conflicts between Highway (concrete/sidewalk repairs) and DEW (tree planting). The horticulturist (Tom Kalela) currently under DEW inspects and replaces shade trees; Robert requested transferring the position to Highway to improve coordination, as trees planted by DEW are often removed months later for roadwork. The board agreed to have Councilman Loman, Robert, and David Bonds meet to discuss budget and logistics before a decision.
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Highway Fleet Repair Budget: Robert noted the repair line (5130-459) has a $750,000 budget but already spent $300,000 by end of January. Past years of underfunding have pushed repairs forward. He requested a more realistic budget for future years. The board asked Robert to compile snow removal repair costs and coordinate with Councilman Loman and Paul (Budget) for possible mid-year fund transfers.
Executive Session
- Motion to enter executive session: Seconded and approved unanimously (both motions).
- Purpose: Discuss contractual matters and potential property purchase.
- Motion to end executive session and work session: Seconded and approved unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- No decisions were made on the SmartPass parking system; board members will deliberate and decide by early March.
- Public hearings on the four tax exemptions will be scheduled for the next board meeting; if no objections, they may be adopted that day.
- A meeting among Councilman Loman, Robert (Highway), and David Bonds will be arranged to evaluate transferring the horticulturist position to Highway.
- Robert will compile snow removal repair costs; a meeting with Councilman Loman and Paul will be scheduled to address potential fleet repair budget shortfalls.
- The board entered and concluded executive session, then adjourned the work session.
Meeting Transcript
The February 12th work session. All members are here, but for Miss Nowick, she's not going to attend, but I did speak to her on the phone this morning about uh about the agenda. So what I'd like to start with first is working with the town clerk and public safety, councilman lohman. Um we've had a discussion about moving forward with the uh parking passes for the beaches. We've had a discussion before. Um didn't pan out. We we we came up with a new system here that we'd like to present today. No decisions will be made. What I'd like the board to do is is look at the presentation, have a discussion about it, and then we would need to make a decision by I'm gonna say, you know, beginning of March, because um we're we're we're gonna put it in play if it's approved from April 1st to April 1st each year. So basically what it is, it's a there's going to be a savings and it's gonna be easier for the residents. Uh and you'll see the presentation that we did so everybody could see it a little more clearly. Um, but what it will do is it's done through the plate, it's done all electronically. Clerks agreed that you'll have help in town hall for somebody who has difficulty getting on it. Basically, what it is you'll register your plate online, you will um pay a five-dollar processing fee for each plate that you want to register. Plates go into the system in public safety, and the and the uh plate readers on the mobile units will be the ones that go in and check it. We will not have to have gate guards any longer. Um, we don't have to pay for the stickers um or the mailings. So approximate savings would be somewhere in the vicinity of about $300,000 in savings. Some of that savings um will be uh moved to public safety where we have some deficits that uh I went over with Paul. They have some budget issues over there. We could correct those budget issues with some of the savings that we realize here. So um that's the basics of it. Um we did all we we crunched all the numbers, and that's what it comes out to. We can save about 300,000. And uh I'll just my opinion, and I've said this before. Um having the system the way we do it. Um, we're the only town who doesn't charge for anything for parking in facilities. Um frankly, the gate guards at the gates, that they're not really checking things. They're they're you know, students, that they're not gonna get into a confrontation and that they're not public safety officers. Um, and then we have the expense of purchasing these stickers. I can tell you we we looked, I worked with the clerk, we looked at this a number of times. Um you have people coming in because they're free, taking five stickers, six stickers, two of them wind up in the facility, but they're on a car registered in Nassau County. So uh so we're pretty sure that the ones that are taking those huge numbers of stickers, they're not they don't have five vehicles to registered in their driveway if they're putting it on. So that could correct that as well. So I think it's a good plan. Nick, I'll let you show it up there so the board can see it, and then we'll uh deliberate downstairs. Let's look at it on this, and then get back to us whether we want to put it in play. You know, that went over it with public safety and the councilman. Um the only requirement public safety would need is to purchase two additional plate readers, which we can take out of the savings that we have here, and that that puts them in good position to be able to control all the facilities. Mobile. Point farm will be the gate because they that won't change, right? It's gonna stay the same. Yeah. Morning, supervisor, members of the board. This morning we're gonna review a proposal to implement the digital parking permitting system to replace our current physically physical based decal system. Current system is expensive and it's cumbersome. By the adoption of the digital T2 parking system-based system, we'll reduce costs and provide a smooth, easy process for our residents. Nikki. Yes. Welcome to the town of Smithtown's Smart Pass Initiative.
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