North Hempstead's budget gets landscaping boost

The Town of North Hempstead is finalizing its 2016 budget and is making adjustments to its preliminary budget estimates, including a sizable increase for the highway division.

In the preliminary budget submitted several weeks ago, $250,000 was allotted for town landscaping. At a public hearing earlier this week, North Hempstead Deputy Supervisor Aline Khatchadourian said this amount would be increased by $100,000.

Supervisor Judi Bosworth called the revision a "key increase" that improved quality of life for residents.

The funds are used for tree plantings and other landscaping projects. The increase brings the highway general repairs budget, which includes landscaping, to $1.37 million.

The overall budget for the town's outside village fund, which is used for community planning, road maintenance and more still stands at $35.1 million, a town spokesperson said. The outside village fund serves constituents who live or own property outside the borders of incorporated villages.

The general fund currently stands at $66.7 million, a town spokesperson said. Khatchadourian emphasized that the adjustments to the preliminary budget were all within the state tax cap of 0.73 percent.

The town board will vote on the final budget on Thursday, before Election Day.