Voters overwhelmingly approved the Cutchogue-New Suffolk Historical Council & Museums’ proposed tax levy needed to preserve local history and the aging buildings that house it.

The $60,000 tax levy passed with 102 votes for ‘Yes’ and just 12 for ‘No.’

“We’re thrilled that the community has chosen to support us, and we look forward to celebrating Cutchogue and New Suffolk’s history in the future,” executive director Mark MacNish said.

It will cost the average taxable property about $21.52 a year and continue annually unless voters later change or eliminate it, according to the council.

The council runs the Old House, Old Schoolhouse, Wickham Farmhouse, Red Barn, Carriage House, and Village Garage. It also maintains the Cutchogue Old Burying Ground, including surveying graves and placing burial information in an online database.

Mr. MacNish previously said four of the museum buildings need new roofs. The Old Schoolhouse is the most pressing and is scheduled for roof replacement in October, while the other three will likely require work within the next several years.

He also said volunteer labor has become harder to find than when the council was formed more than six decades ago, forcing the council to hire contractors for routine upkeep.

“As time has gone on, we have had to go more into the principal, and we can see that things are going more in that direction,” he told The Suffolk Times earlier this month. “That’s one of the reasons why we are asking for this money.”

The council’s latest federal tax return shows how heavily it relies on investment returns to cover growing expenses.

It reported $147,623 in revenue and $142,136 in expenses in 2024, leaving a $5,487 surplus. But $93,453 — nearly two-thirds of its revenue — came from investment income and gains. Contributions and grants generated $19,301, while programs brought in $34,503.

The previous year, the council recorded a $54,561 deficit.

The passed vote follows Southold and Peconic voters’ 329-144 approval in May of a $183,155 annual levy providing public funding for the Southold Historical Museum for the first time.

The post Voters pass Cutchogue-New Suffolk Historical Council’s $60K tax levy appeared first on The Suffolk Times.

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