Joseph Scianablo and other Town of Hempstead residents took to Cornwall Avenue Park in West Hempstead demanding greater transparency from the town, calling for a formal state audit after Hempstead officials acknowledged failing to file the legally required financial statements.
Scianablo announced on Feb. 19, he has formally requested that the New York State Comptroller's Office, led by Thomas DiNapoli, conduct an independent financial and operational audit of the town. The request follows a Jan. 9 “Material Event Notice” in which the town admitted it did not submit its audited financial statements for the fiscal year ending Dec. 31, 2024, and acknowledged violations tied to bond disclosure obligations.
“I’m standing here today as a resident and a concerned taxpayer,” said Scianablo, who is once again the Democratic supervisor candidate. He lost to Supervisor John Ferretti, a Republican, in November. “This is not an accusation — it’s facts, Scianablo added. “The Town of Hempstead failed to comply with the requirements for filing financial statements. They failed the people. They failed to submit the required 2024 audit.”
He described the missed filings as part of what he called a broader “pattern of secrecy and noncompliance,” arguing that independent oversight is “not optional — it’s necessary.”
Scianablo pointed to major fiscal decisions over the past two years, including a 12 percent tax hike followed by what he described as an unexplained 18 percent reduction the following year, as examples of why closer scrutiny is warranted.
“Critical decisions in the Town of Hempstead are being made without clear answers,” he said. “This is exactly why an independent audit is necessary. If everything is being done properly by the town, this audit will show that. If problems are uncovered, they must be fixed.”
He also raised concerns about the town’s animal shelter, citing questions about budgeting, staffing and public access. Referencing the Companion Animal Care Standards Act, Scianablo said transparency should be prioritized rather than “creating a barrier between the shelter and the public.”
“The state comptroller exists to provide independent oversight and protect taxpayers,” he said. “We need to know our money is being managed responsibly. Real leadership means welcoming transparency, not avoiding it.”
Resident Leslie Martin echoed those concerns, alleging that reserve funds were used to give the appearance of tax relief ahead of the 2025 election.
“Instead of providing real relief, the town dipped into reserve funds,” Martin said. “The purpose of reserve funds is to act as a financial safety net, not to create tax breaks for political purposes. As taxpayers, we deserve transparency and accountability.”
The town pushed back on the claims. Spokesman Brian Devine said Ferretti has lowered taxes for residents and that the 2024 financial audit was completed on time and publicly posted online.
“Any suggestion that the town failed its auditing duties is false and misleading,” Devine said, emphasizing that the town has met all state requirements.
Have an opinion on Hempstead Town issues? Send letter to jbessen@liherald.com.
