Voters to decide Baldwin sanitation district's fate Wednesday

Baldwin-area residents will vote Wednesday on whether to dissolve a sanitary district that serves more than 50,000 people.

Residents of Sanitary District 2, which serves residents in Baldwin, Roosevelt, South Hempstead and parts of Uniondale, Rockville Centre and Freeport, will vote to keep or dissolve the district.

Opponents of the district say their tax bills — more than $500, on average — would be lower if Hempstead Town provided the garbage service instead. But district supporters say consolidation would result in layoffs and reduced service.

The dissolution, if approved, would be the largest such action in New York under a state law enacted in 2009.

The sanitation district would need to craft a plan for a new service provider if the dissolution option passes. Hempstead Town, which district opponents have said would be the logical service provider, would have to issue a vote of approval if it was tapped to provide service.

The election will be held from 2 to 10 p.m. at three polling places: Sanitary District No. 2 headquarters, 2080 Grand Ave., in Baldwin; Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, 196 Centennial Ave., in Roosevelt; and Covert School, Long Beach Road and Willow St., in South Hempstead.