The Town of North Hempstead board voted 4-3 in favor of a $123.03 million general budget for 2013 at last week’s Tuesday night board meeting with a unexpected twist – Democratic North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman joined the Republican minority in opposition.
The 2013 budget represents a 4.83 percent increase over the $117,365,130 in the town’s 2012 budget. The tax levy is projected at $71,060.614.
The issue for Kaiman, he said, was that the budget he was at the center of forging was below the state-mandated tax cap called at $122.8 million, but amendments were added that pushed the budget over the tax cap by 1.36 percent.
“The amendments weren’t bad in themselves. But they at the end of the day, it put my budget over the tax cap so I couldn’t vote for them,” Kaiman said.
The final budget called for higher benefit increases for town employees.
Kaiman said the changes were needed to be offset for the budget to remain within the tax cap formula, but he didn’t see “any real way” to do that.
Asked if his vote was cast as a matter of principle, he said, “You could say that.”
“It’s not the amount. Once you’re over, you’re over,” Kaiman said.
Kaiman abstained from voting in favor of the amendments prior to the budget vote. He was then cast his vote against the budget after the four Democrats approved the budget.
But Kaiman said the four votes cast by Democrats ensuring the budget’s approval didn’t influence his vote.
“I voted the way I voted. It’s not based on the order in which we vote,” Kaiman said.
Kaiman’s surprising vote drew a rare note of praise from Republican Councilman Angelo Ferrara.
“For once, you’re on the right side of the issue,” Ferrara said, smiling.
For homes valued at the town average, the budget will result in a tax increase of $16 to $193 for the year.
Areas of increased spending included Services for the Aging, which will rise year-to-year to $2,118,631 from $1,860,631 and parks and recreation, which will rise to $15,225,749 from $13,933,653. Total expenses for town departments will rise to $65,347,84 next year, from $61,347,178 this year.
The town is expanding its Project Independence program aimed at providing services to allow elderly residents to continue living independently. The town’s new community center in Westbury accounts for the parks and recreation increase.
Marianna Wohlgemuth, president of the Lakeville Estates Civic Association in New Hyde Park, questioned Kaiman about spending related to the Clinton G. Martin Park in the New Hyde Park Park District.
The total 2013 budget for Clinton G. Martin was set at $1,198, 201, up from $1,196,348 in 2012. That represents an increase of $1,853 or .15 percent. The tax levy in the district will be reduced to $729,694 in 2013, from $729,691 in the current year.
Wohlgemuth questioned the year-to-year increase in administrative fees to $72,478 from $68,405 and parks charges at 121,014, a reduction from 127,841 in the current year.
North Hempstead Deputy Supervisor Christopher Senior said the administrative charges are levied based on the “relative size” of the park district.
Wohlgemuth also raised a long-standing issue of money she has maintained the town owes the park district for its annual $15,000 lease on a building in Clinton G. Martin Park. She asked about an interfund transfer of $65,593 in 2010. Kaiman said that was the in-kind payment to the park district – for propane tanks – that satisfied the debt the town owed the park district on the lease.
“Yes, it’s finished. I’ve been telling you it’s finished for five years,” Kaiman said, adding, “I was telling you it was finished even before it was finished.”
He was referring to an in-kind payment he said the town had previously made by installing platform tennis courts for $80,000, which he has said was charged to the park district.
Wohlgemuth has challenged Kaiman on the payment in the past, sparking an attempt by the county comptroller’s office to audit the park district books. The town resisted the audit, and a lawsuit about the issue is currently in state appellate court.
Wohlgemuth asked whether an administrative charge of $84,000 in 2010 was related to the lawsuit. Kaiman said it was not related.
“The district is not being charged for the litigation,” he said.
Reach reporter Richard Tedesco by e-mail at rtedesco@theislandnow.com or by phone at 516.307.1045 x204. Also follow us on Twitter @theislandnow and Facebook at facebook.com/theislandnow.
