Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena has proposed a $158.4 million tentative budget for 2023 that remains below the spending cap.
The tentative budget, submitted to the six other members of the Town Board on Sept. 28 and released on the town’s website one day later, calls for a general fund tax levy increase of $569,600, or 2.12%, from the 2022 adopted budget, rising from $26,808,627 to $27,378,227.
The general fund tax levy increase results in an average of $6.30 per household, according to town officials.
In the town’s $89,098,154 general fund, $40.5 million is allocated to the outside village fund, which covers services for residents who live outside incorporated villages, and $28.8 million for the 20 town-operated special districts, which set their own budget.
The Town Outside Village Fund Tax Levy increased by from $27,970,865 to $28,874,137, a 3.22% increase that stands as an average increase of $28.88 per household, according to town officials.
“The tentative budget is highlighted by spending restraints, increased efficiencies, and an open, honest, and transparent look at how the Town is spending our taxpayer’s money,” DeSena said. “I am so proud to deliver my first budget plan on behalf of our taxpayers. The tentative budget is the first step in the process, and it provides a window into my administration’s goals for the upcoming year.”
She added, “While the skyrocketing inflation rate and unstable economy have presented the Town with many unexpected challenges this year, I am proud that despite this, under the tentative budget plan our exceptional Town workforce will continue to maintain our Town services, all while remaining under the state-mandated spending cap.”
The tentative budget is the first since DeSena took office in January. She was the first Republican nominee to win the town supervisor election in over 30 years, succeeding Democrat Judi Bosworth, who did not seek re-election.
Earlier, this year, Moody’s Investor Service affirmed North Hempstead’s AAA bond rating, the highest a town can achieve, for the 12th consecutive instance.
Additional focus on the beautification and maintenance of the town’s parks and infrastructure is reflected in the town’s parks department budget increasing by $253,970.
The highway landscaping fund in the highway department has increased 28% year to year to provide more funding for tree plantings around Nort Hempstead, according to town officials.
This year’s tentative budget was put together without a town comptroller, a position that has been vacant since at least January.
Paul Wood, director of finance for the Office of the Supervisor, has been the acting comptroller.
The seven-member Town Board will be conducting two public work sessions at town hall on Oct. 13 at 10:30 a.m. and Oct. 20 at 7 p.m., which will allow them to make any changes or amendments, if necessary, and another public hearing on Oct. 25 at 6 p.m. where the tentative budget will become a preliminary budget.
A final special meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 3, when the board will vote to adopt the budget. North Hempstead’s Town Board has continuously adopted the town budget before Election Day.
“At my inauguration in January I vowed to return town government to a taxpayer-first principle and the 2023 tentative budget is a major step in that direction. Since my first day in office, I have put an emphasis on openness, transparency, and integrity in Town government, so that our residents gain greater insight into the way things actually work here,” DeSena continued in a statement.
“Now the most open and transparent budget process in our Town’s history will commence, as I hold multiple budget hearings and multiple public work sessions to provide our residents an in-depth look at Town finances. I am proud that my administration takes a taxpayer-first approach, so I encourage our residents to come down to Town Hall to engage with the process and provide their input.”
