Hempstead passes $576M budget, keeps town-wide tax levy flat

Hempstead passes $576M budget, keeps town-wide tax levy flat

Hempstead Town Board passed a $576 million budget for 2026 that increases spending by $26.5 million and draws $56 million from reserves to keep the town-wide tax levy flat.  The town’s total tax levy from 2025 to 2026 went from $389,004,668.40 to $389,328,226.75. This year’s levy amount is primarily made up of a $22.9 million general fund tax levy, down 18%, or $5 million from last year and an $104 million special district tax levy, up 5%, or ab…