North Hempstead OKs $162.8M budget with extra money for roads, tree upkeep

North Hempstead Town officials have unanimously approved a $162.8 million budget for 2023 that includes a 5% decrease in general fund taxes and allocates additional money for street paving and tree maintenance.

The budget passed on a 7-0 vote at a special town board meeting Monday. It allocates $89.2 million to the town’s general fund, $44.8 million to the town-outside-village fund and $28.8 million for 20 town-operated special districts.

While the budget is a $6.2 million increase over the current spending plan, which town officials attributed to inflation and increased spending, they used reserve funds to approve a 5% decrease to the general fund tax levy. The average homeowner will save about $15.

On Oct. 25, the town board unanimously approved amendments to Supervisor Jennifer DeSena’s then-tentative budget. This followed a failed proposal by DeSena to take money from the town’s reserve fund to cut general fund taxes by 11%, which would have resulted in a $33 annual decrease for the average town taxpayer. All four Democrats on the board abstained from voting on it.

In a statement, DeSena said she was “disheartened” about the measure’s outcome but noted the town maintained a tradition of approving the budget before Election Day.

“While I am disappointed that the majority council members failed to deliver on their promise to go further than my proposal and deliver even more tax relief to our residents than the double-digit tax cut I proposed, I am pleased that the town’s adopted budget represents a significant investment in infrastructure improvements throughout town, specifically our roadways,” she said.

The budget includes 450 town positions, an increase of 21 positions from the current spending plan, which reflects hires made throughout 2022 and planned hirings for 2023, officials said. All existing programs and services are being maintained in the budget.

Outside of contractual obligations, town officials said, the budget does not call for additional raises.

Councilwoman Veronica Lurvey’s approved amendments also added more funding for tree trimming and removals, and the repairs of sidewalks and roads.

“This is a responsible budget that gives residents a 5% tax cut, while also providing quality-of-life services and maintaining a stable fund balance,” Lurvey said.