Hempstead presents preliminary 2026 budget claiming $5 million town tax cut; residents and controller spar over reserves and special districts

The Town of Hempstead Board presented its preliminary budget for the fiscal year beginning Jan. 1, 2026 during public hearings Oct. 16, 2025 and moved to include estimated ending fund balances in the draft and to amend the deputy supervisor’s compensation as shown in the document.

Supervisor Ferretti said the tentative budget “cuts taxes in the general fund by 18% resulting in a $5,000,000 cut to the tax levy,” and described the plan as a tax-cutting, fiscally responsible budget while noting rising costs and unfunded mandates from Albany.

John Mastemarino, the town controller, clarified that the board’s tax levy (the amount the town board controls) is separate from the levies set by 14 independently operated special districts that are required by state law to be appended to the town’s budget document. Mastemarino said the town’s own tax levy would fall from roughly $289.8 million in 2025 to roughly $284.8 million in 2026 — a $5 million reduction — while the combined townwide total that appears in the budget book (which includes the independent districts)…