Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth submitted a tentative 2016 budget on Sept. 29 to the town board, which stays within the state’s .73% tax cap.
“This budget is a result of a lot of hard work by our Comptroller’s Office, Finance Director and our commissioners who crafted a budget and stayed under the very challenging tax cap,” Bosworth said in a statement. “I have asked each town commissioner to reduce expenses, to institute tight controls on costs and new hires. I am committed to continuing to provide town residents with the services they deserve.”
The tax cap limits a local government’s overall growth in the property tax levy to 2 percent or the rate of inflation, whichever is less, according to the New York State official website.
“For residents living in incorporated villages, the General Fund Budget represents a $3.25 a year increase for the average household,” according to a release from the town. “For residents living in the unincorporated areas of the Town, who also pay the [Town outside Village] tax, their increase represents an additional $8.30 a year for the average household.”
The budget includes a $67.1 million General Fund, a $35.1 million Town outside Village Fund, and $24 million for the 20 town-operated special districts.
The General Fund covers residents across the town, both within incorporated villages and unincorporated areas. The Town outside Village Fund accounts for those who live or own property outside the borders of the town’s incorporated villages and goes towards departments that handle road maintenance, snow plowing, code enforcement, building safety and inspection, and community planning.
The 43 special districts in the town are comprised of 20 operated by the town and 23 with independently elected governing boards. Each special district with independently elected governing boards has its own budget, subject to approval by the Town Council.
The $67.1 million for the General Fund represents an increase of $1,080,000 in spending over 2015’s $66.02 million. The General Fund calls for $24.9 million of the $67.1 million in spending to be raised by taxes — up from 2015’s $24.75 million.
The Town outside Village Fund calls for $35.2 million in spending, an increase of $305,221 over 2015.
Of the $35.2 million, $27.1 million will be raised by taxes, an increase of $196,234 over 2015.
It has been raised from 2015’s total budgeted expenses of $26.89 million.
The town board will also be voting on proposed salaries for their elected officials at the same level as 2015.
The town Supervisor’s proposed salary is $133,000, the town Clerk’s proposed salary is $105,000, the Council members’ proposed salaries are $49,000 and the Receiver of Taxes’ proposed salary is $115,000.
