North Hempstead's $138 million budget hikes spending 1.47%, keeps levy flat

The Town of North Hempstead has proposed a preliminary budget of $138 million for 2026, a 1.47% spending increase over the current year.

The town also has proposed to freeze the tax levy at $42.89 million.

Taxes for homeowners in unincorporated parts of the town would average $763.35 in 2026 and $247.30 for those living in villages, officials said, down from $767.17 and up from $246.71, respectively, for 2025.

Supervisor Jennifer DeSena said in an emailed statement the budget was a "balancing act."

"We're committed to fully maintaining current services and continuing long-overdue repairs to town infrastructure," DeSena said. "But that can only be achieved by controlling everyday spending and being smart with every dollar. I sincerely hope my colleagues across the aisle don’t view the upcoming hearing as an opportunity to go on a spending spree because any forced expenses would ultimately raise taxes, and nobody wants that.”

Last year, the town board approved a $5.1 million reduction in the tax levy for 2025, a 10.8% drop from the year before. The budget does not include salary increases for DeSena, who earns $133,000, and members of the town board. Town Clerk Ragini Srivastava ($105,000) and Receiver of Taxes Mary Jo Collins ($115,000) also did not receive raises.

Mariann Dalimonte, a Democratic council member representing Port Washington, expressed frustration with a proposed reduction of the building department staff from 52 to 51, as well as a decrease in overtime for the department, from $177,500 to $46,000.

"Everyone keeps complaining about our building department," Dalimonte said. "Why would you decrease it? ... Obviously there's a problem. We need to fix it."

By Joshua Needelman

joshua.needelman@newsday.com

Joshua Needelman covers the Town of North Hempstead for Newsday. A Long Island native and University of Maryland graduate, his work has appeared in publications including The New York Times and The Washington Post.