Posted on October 15, 2026
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The Westhampton Beach Village Board voted without comment on October 7 to ask the Southampton Town Board to begin the process of establishing a Beach Erosion Control District to help pay for future beach nourishment under the federal Fire Island to Montauk Point Coastal Storm Risk Management Project.
The proposed district would include all properties in the village south of Dune Road, with costs allocated according to property tax assessments. The village would pay 10 percent of the costs, according to the resolution.
The district would provide a mechanism for funding the village’s share of periodic beach nourishment under an agreement with Southampton Town. Under the federal project’s cost-sharing formula, the federal government pays 50 percent of routine nourishment costs, New York State pays 35 percent and local governments are responsible for the remaining 15 percent.
The resolution authorizes the town to begin the process but does not formally approve the creation of the district. That would require further steps under state law, including action by the Southampton Town Board.
Village officials have previously said the district could help ensure funding is available for future beach maintenance while allowing Westhampton Beach to remain part of the long-term shoreline protection program.
