North Hempstead Town approves $138 million budget with tax freeze

The Town of North Hempstead approved a $138 million budget for 2026 with a tax levy freeze, despite calls from Democrats to pass a tax cut.

But majority Republicans on the town board criticized Democrats for not submitting a formal proposal to cut the levy. 

The board voted 6-0 to approve the budget during Tuesday's board meeting.

"This budget keeps everything that we have done, the programs, the spending that we have been doing," Supervisor Jennifer DeSena, a Democrat who caucuses with Republicans, said during the meeting. "They want to see that we are retaining our funds, our programs."

Taxes for homeowners living in villages will average $247.30, up from $246.71 this year. For those in unincorporated parts of the town, taxes will average $763.35, down from $767.17. 

The town's budget is up 1.47% from the current year. The 2025 budget reduced the total town tax levy by $5.1 million, representing a 10.8% reduction from 2024.

The town voted on an amendment to move $25,000 to the community events budget. 

Robert Troiano, a Democratic councilman, during Tuesday's meeting said the town should have cut the tax levy because there are more than $30 million in reserve funds.

"We have an opportunity to return the taxpayers' money to the taxpayer, and why not?" Troiano said during the meeting, his voice rising. "Why not do that?

DeSena questioned why Troiano had waited until the meeting to raise his concerns. The town held a public work session to discuss the budget on Oct. 14. She derided Troiano's request as "theater."

"Our work session was 12 days ago, and nothing has been submitted by you or anyone else on the town board. No questions were asked about whether we should take more from the reserve fund," DeSena said during the meeting. "There is no proposal on the table. There is nothing for us to consider. You're just talking ... and the time has passed."

Troiano noted during the meeting that the deadline for approving a budget is Nov. 20.

When Mariann Dalimonte, another Democratic council member, chimed in during the meeting to support Troiano, Dennis Walsh, a Republican councilman who had been verbally sparring with Troiano, mimed playing an invisible violin.

"Stop with your violin! You're very disrespectful!" Dalimonte said.

The meeting ended with Troiano and Joe Scalero, the deputy supervisor, who had been standing at the dais, shouting over one another. 

"You did not even submit something tonight," Scalero said, pounding his left fist on the dais.

Troiano pointed his finger at Scalero.

"You're not going to tell me when I can ask questions," Troiano said. "If you don't want to support a tax cut, that's on you, sir!"

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.