N. Hempstead proposes 4.42% spending hike

The Town of North Hempstead's proposed overall budget for 2012 calls for $107.2 million in spending, an increase of 4.42 percent.

Current services will be maintained and layoffs are not planned, town spokesman Collin Nash said. If possible, vacant positions will not be filled, he added.

The budget calls for a 4.74 percent increase in general fund spending to $60.9 million from $58.2 million. The levy increase will be 1.99 percent and the average household general fund tax bill will increase by $3, Nash said.

The general fund levy is charged to all town residents, including those who live in villages, said Christopher Senior, deputy town supervisor.

The town's budget for areas outside villages will increase by an additional 3.74 percent to $38.6 million from $37.2 million. The average household tax bill in those areas will increase by $11.

The total budget for the town's garbage districts will increase by 5.33 percent to $7.7 million, up from $7.3 million. The average increase will vary by district, some of which have contracts out for bid, Senior said.

General fund spending includes a 19.2 percent increase in the comptrollers office -- which includes growth in professional services fees for the Business and Tourism Development Corp. -- to $3.7 million from $3.1 million.

The Department of Services for the Aging will see a 7.8 percent decrease in spending -- to $1.8 million from $1.9 million -- because of a reduction in federal grants. Services will not change, town officials said.

The town board will vote Oct. 18 to set a November public hearing on the proposed budget.