By Joseph Scianablo
Like members of many families in the Town of Hempstead, I sit at my kitchen table and look at the same numbers you do. Mortgage. Property taxes. Utilities. Groceries. Gas. Insurance.
Everything costs more than it did a year ago. When you’re stretching every dollar just to keep up, the least you should expect from your local government is straight answers about where your tax money is going.
That’s why I formally requested that the New York state comptroller conduct an independent audit of the Town of Hempstead’s finances.
The comptroller’s office exists to provide independent, professional oversight of municipal finances. That kind of objective review strengthens public confidence and protects taxpayers. When questions arise, independent verification reassures everyone.
The last publicly available audit on the town’s website is from 2019. Since then, leadership has changed. Budgets have shifted. Taxes have gone up. Financial decisions have been made that directly affect residents across the town. Yet updated, audited financial statements are not readily accessible to the public.
Earlier this year, the town acknowledged in a public filing that its audited financial statements for fiscal year 2024 weren’t submitted on time. Officials said that a third-party firm had missed the deadline. But accountability ultimately rests with the town.
An audit isn’t just a stack of paperwork; it’s the public’s window into how their government manages their money. It tells taxpayers whether finances are stable, whether spending is sustainable, and whether today’s decisions will become tomorrow’s tax increases. Without clear, timely audits, residents are left guessing, and guesswork is no substitute for accountability.
Last year the town approved a 12 percent tax increase. By the end of the year, officials boasted that they would deliver an 18 percent reduction. But many residents say they didn’t feel meaningful relief. Some homeowners, particularly those outside incorporated villages, are reporting higher 2026 town tax bills. When the government says one thing but families experience another, confidence erodes.
The town has also drawn from its reserve funds — essentially its savings account. Reserve funds are meant to provide stability during true emergencies or unexpected downturns. Just like a family’s savings, that money is there for when something goes wrong.
When that savings account is tapped, residents deserve to understand why, how much was spent, and what the long-term plan is to replenish it. If savings aren’t rebuilt, the pressure often shows up later as higher taxes, layoffs, or reduced services.
That’s why transparency matters now, not years from now.
I’ve spoken with neighbors who attended budget hearings, hoping for straightforward answers, only to leave more confused than when they arrived. I’ve heard from residents who submitted Freedom of Information requests and received extension after extension, delaying answers they’re still waiting for. I’ve watched financial questions at Town Board meetings get redirected instead of answered directly.
Taken together, these concerns point to a simple conclusion: the need for clarity. An audit isn’t an attack. It’s a checkup. If everything is being managed properly, an independent audit will confirm that. If adjustments are needed, better to identify them now, before small concerns become larger financial burdens for families already feeling squeezed.
I’m a Marine combat veteran. I later served as an NYPD officer and as a prosecutor. In each of those roles, accountability wasn’t optional; it was the foundation of trust. You follow the rules, meet deadlines, answer for your decisions. Government should operate by those same principles.
The same applies to the town animal shelter, a taxpayer-funded service that recently closed. Residents deserve clear explanations about decisions that affect services and tax dollars alike.
Families are working hard to stay in the Town of Hempstead. Seniors are trying to remain in the homes they’ve owned for decades. Young couples are wondering if they can afford to own a home and raise a family.
I know what matters to my family. Stability. Honesty.
Affordability. Like you, we sit at the kitchen table and plan for the future. We count every dollar. We shouldn’t have to worry about surprises from Town Hall, because when every dollar matters at home, it should matter in government.
At the end of the day, this is about whether the people who built this community can afford to stay in it. That’s what I care about, and that’s what I’m fighting for.
Joseph Scianablo is the Democratic candidate for Town of Hempstead supervisor.
