Proposed Hempstead Town Budget Would Lower Taxes -- Maybe

Hempstead Town Supervisor Laura Gillen put forward her proposed 2019 budget this week, and she says it would actually lead to a slight tax decrease for most homeowners -- a claim that the rest of the Town Board doesn't believe.

The decrease for homeowners would be slight -- 1.88 percent on average, or $14.28 compared to the 2018 tax bill, Gillen said. However, Gillen says that more than 80 percent of town residents will see the decrease reflected in their 2019 tax bill.

“We have righted the town’s fiscal ship and have delivered a structurally balanced budget by employing fiscally sound, transparent and careful budgeting,” said Town of Hempstead Supervisor Laura Gillen. “My administration absorbed millions in unbudgeted costs head-on, and actually delivered a savings for most taxpayers.”

The average aggregated tax levy overall will increase by 0.74 percent. Gillen said her 2019 budget reflects zero pay increases for exempt staff, while maintaining essential town services at current levels.

But members of the Town Board don't believe that Gillen's math adds up, and don't think that most residents will get a tax decrease.

“There is a popular term known as gilding the lily' and then there is the 'flat out lie,'" said Trustee Anthony D'Esposito. "Today, Hempstead Town's supervisor discussed her budget at a town board meeting that actually increases taxes by over $2 million. Curiously, her press release, which appeared in The Patch, was entitled, 'Proposed Hempstead Town Budget Would Actually Lower Taxes.' Further on in the press item, Gillen admits her budget will increase taxes 'by .74 percent.' The article's headline does not 'gild the lily,' rather it is a 'flat out lie.' Taxpayers deserve better.”

Editor's Note: The original title of this article was "Proposed Hempstead Town Budget Would Actually Lower Taxes." It was changed to incorporate the opinion of the Town Board.

Gillen, however, fired back at D'Esposito's claims, and said that the budget would, in fact, lower taxes.

"Numbers don't lie," Gillen said. "The councilman's statement reveals that he either did not read or does not understand the tentative budget. The figures provided by our town comptroller unquestionably indicate the majority of homeowners (i.e. Class 1 properties) will see a decrease in the town taxes in 2019."

Gillen will be hosting community meetings throughout the town to discuss her budget with residents on the following days:

• Monday, Oct. 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the Elmont Public Library
• Wednesday, Oct. 10 at 6:30 p.m. at the Five Towns Community Center
• Thursday, Oct. 11 at 6:30 p.m. at the Rockville Centre Public Library
• Friday, Oct. 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the Levittown Public Library
• Saturday, Oct. 13 at 11:00 a.m. at the Bellmore Memorial Library
• Monday, Oct. 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Roosevelt Public Library

The budget hearings are set for Tuesday, Oct. 16 at 2:30 and 7 p.m. in the Nathan L.H. Bennett Pavilion at Town Hall in Hempstead. To view the proposed budget in its entirety, click here.

Photo courtesy Town of Hempstead