Lindenhurst budget raises taxes almost 4%, pierces cap

The Village of Lindenhurst is piercing the tax cap and raising taxes by nearly 4% in its 2026-2027 budget, with officials citing costs rising beyond their control.

The $20 million budget was approved unanimously by the five-member board of trustees after a public hearing Tuesday night. The budget raises the tax rate from $24.75 to $25.73 per $100 of assessed valuation. It keeps the $236 one-family-dwelling sanitation fee the same. For an average single-family home with an assessed value of $4,600, taxes will rise by $45, from $1,138 to $1,183. 

The increase comes on the heels of last year’s 12.5% tax hike.

“The departments really worked hard on this budget to keep it as tight as we can realistically do it,” Village Treasurer Louise Schrader said.

The spending plan, which runs from March 1 through Feb. 28, increases spending most significantly for the sanitation department, which is budgeted at more than $1 million, up more than $136,000 from last year’s $882,000. The largest department decrease came from fire and rescue protection, which is dropping by more than $82,000, from $1.99 million to $1.90 million.

Among the village’s biggest expense increases is hospital/medical insurance, which is jumping more than $177,000 to $2.65 million to include a 9% spike in premiums, Schrader said.

Another area of rising costs came from the state retirement fund, which Schrader called a “big nut” for the village and is increasing by more than $133,000.

“It’s something we can’t control; the state dictates that number,” Schrader said.

Mayor Mike Lavorata echoed the notion of a lack of control.

“Almost three-quarters of the tax increase is because of nondiscretionary spending, which we can’t control,” he said. “This was a team effort and I’m really proud with what this group accomplished. ... We had a horrible year last year with the tax increase.”

Only a couple of residents spoke at the budget hearing. Terence Whelan called the nearly 4% tax increase “very fair” considering the rise in costs the past few years.

“I think they did a very deep, thorough job,” he said of village officials.

By Denise M. Bonilla

denise.bonilla@newsday.comdenisebonilla

Denise Bonilla has worked at Newsday since 2003 and covers the Town of Babylon, including the villages of Lindenhurst and Amityville.