New Huntington Bay Mayor Mark Dara: 'I'm going to watch their money like I watch my own'

As Huntington Bay's newly elected mayor, Mark Dara keeps a hawk's eye on village finances. His priority, he said, is to return the village to financial stability and improve transparency and accountability after years of financial distress. 

"People can trust that I’m going to watch their money like I watch my own,” said Dara, 71, the village's first new mayor in 30 years, who began his two-year term July 1 after beating his opponent Mike Frawley in June. 

A 24-year resident of the village, Dara oversees a village of 750 homes and nearly 1,500 residents.

Former Mayor Herb Morrow's term concluded amid a probe by the Suffolk County district attorney alleging he used a village-issued credit card for personal expenses. The case is pending.

The village in 2023 was listed by the state comptroller's office as being “susceptible to fiscal stress” based on its year-end fund balance, cash position, short-term cash flow borrowing and patterns of operating deficits. It will remain on the list until it has 10% of its operating budget in reserves, Dara said. He estimates it will take two years to reach that mark.

Patricia Antonucci, a village resident who had raised concerns about the village’s finances, said Dara, a village trustee for 12 years who also served as roads commissioner before being elected, has "proven himself as a hard worker as a member of the board and he has integrity and the right focus."

Dara oversees a budget of $2.5 million for 2024-25, which raised property taxes by 8.7%, piercing the state's tax cap and increasing the average property tax bill by $268. The budget was passed in April. Dara and trustee Barbara Beuerlein voted against the budget, with Dara saying the budget was not balanced. 

The village has $1.2 million in investments, $300,000 in savings and $90,000 in a money market fund. It takes about $200,000 a month to run the village, Dara said, adding bills for July have been paid and, if needed, he will dip into investments for August and September. 

Since taking office, Dara, who is paid a salary of $1,500 a month, said he’s restructured the staff and cut expenses, with an estimated $55,000 in savings. The village employs one full-time worker and four part-time workers. The village police force has five- full-time officers and nine part-time members.

Huntington Bay resident John Paci, who is in litigation with the village over a dock he constructed, said he supports a tax increase as long as the money is spent wisely with a focus on public safety.

"As long as we are using the proceeds to protect the community and not overspending on overzealous projects and lawsuits, I'm all for paying a little bit more," Paci said.

Dara discussed his goals for the village on Tuesday with Newsday. The interview has been edited for clarity and length.

How do you plan to shore up the village's finances?

Dara is considering proposing a tax increase between 5% to 7% in April, he said, to make up for past years and to cover rising costs, including health benefits for employees and retirees. The previous administration raised taxes only a total of 3.9% over the past 12 years, he said, leaving the village at risk of being in a financial deficit.

“I would like to raise it 20% to bring us to where we belong,” he said. “But I’m going to have to do this slowly.”

What can residents expect from your administration?

“Transparency and accountability. Those are not just buzzwords, but I think words you live by,” he said. “Our main objective here is to be staunch fiduciaries with the residents' money and take care of village infrastructure.”

What is the biggest issue you face in your new role?

“Turning around the perception of what this board was. That’s my No. 1 priority,” he said. “I think a lot of residents don’t have faith in this board to do what they are supposed to do, and I want to redefine that by being honest." 

How do you intend to do that?

“I think it’s important to engage with residents and have them chair boards. I’m going to create a financial oversight board, [an] architectural review advisory board" and he said he will enact a local waterfront revitalization program "to protect our shoreline.”

The state program works in partnership with waterfront communities to manage the waterfront. 

Besides fixing the village’s finances, what is another project you would like to address?

"One of my main concerns is discharge in our bay from antiquated drains. I’m applying for state grants for $2.2 million, which is probably reaching for the sky, but you have to reach high to get something.”