HUNTINGTON, NY – September 11, 2026
Huntington’s 2027 budget debate continues, with the tax cap override headed for a Town Board vote and residents weighing in on what they believe should be cut. We also marked 25 years since September 11th, looked ahead to a packed week around Huntington and shared an important Neighborhood Watch request from Suffolk County Police.
Huntington Matters continues its weekly YouTube Live podcast series to keep residents informed about what’s happening across the Town of Huntington, from local government and public safety updates to conversations taking place in Huntington Matters Community Forum.
Hosted by June Margolin, Dana Richter, and Diane Schaber, the Weekly Update connects residents from Cold Spring Harbor to Commack, Asharoken to Melville, and everywhere in between.
This week’s episode also featured the upcoming Great Cow Harbor 10K Run and Cow Harbor Day, events across the Town of Huntington, a quick look at our September Suffolk County Police Department 2nd Precinct Community Meeting, and a conversation about when residents should call the police.
👇 Watch the full episode below and please subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Remembering September 11th, 25 Years Later
Before turning to this week’s events, Diane shared a personal reflection on September 11th and the responsibility those of us who remember that day now have to tell its story.
She remembered the fear and uncertainty of September 11, 2001, including a question from her then-eight-year-old son that she has never forgotten: “Will they bomb our house too, Mom?”
Twenty-five years later, about one-third of the country was not yet born when the attacks happened. Diane encouraged those who remember to tell younger generations what happened, who we lost, how life and security changed and how Americans responded in the days that followed.
“Telling the story is part of remembering.”
What’s Happening Around Huntington
The Huntington Matters Community Calendar is packed with events as we head into the second half of September.
The East Northport Festival and Festival Bazaar continue this weekend, while The Heist comes to The Burrow at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Huntington. The Spirit of Huntington Art Center will present the documentary Autism Paints: The Spirit of an Artist at Trinity Episcopal Church in Northport.
Tuesday’s Huntington Town Board meeting is a big one. The Board is expected to vote on legislation authorizing an override of the tax levy limit, and the agenda includes six public hearings. Among them are the Cornerstone Melville special use permit application, proposals for a new use at Manor Farm, and an amendment to the Town’s noise code.
Next week brings PAL basketball training, a Town Hall panel discussion on Kratom & Adolescents: Emerging Drug Trends, Cheer Celebrate and Survive, Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians’ Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day Happy Hour and Food Drive, and the Suffolk Baby Shower Program and Beyond.
The annual Greek festival returns next weekend, followed by the Great Cow Harbor 10K and Cow Harbor Day in Northport. Huntington Matters will once again be there covering the race.
Residents can find details for these events and many more on the Huntington Matters Community Calendar at HuntingtonMatters.com.
Episode Sponsor: Kenneth Peters Center for Recovery
September is National Recovery Month, and this week we welcomed Stephanie Morgan from The Kenneth Peters Center for Recovery in Syosset as our episode sponsor.
Stephanie spoke about recovery not only as a journey for people living with substance use disorder, but for their families, loved ones and support systems as well. She explained that people often need help simply figuring out where to turn and what type of treatment is right for them.
The Kenneth Peters Center for Recovery has provided outpatient treatment for 31 years and offers specialty services for young adults, problem gambling and other needs. Stephanie emphasized that when someone reaches out to the center, they speak with a person who can help them navigate their options. If the Kenneth Peters Center is not the right fit, the center is committed to connecting that person with another appropriate resource.
KPC has 3 locations – Syosset, Hauppauge and Rego Park. Learn more at KenPetersCenter.com.
Hot Topics: What Should Huntington Cut?
For the past two weeks, we’ve asked residents a straightforward question as Huntington works through its proposed 2027 budget: If you don’t want taxes to increase as much, what specifically should the Town cut?
We received plenty of suggestions across our social media platforms, but one answer came back repeatedly: residents want the Town Board to reconsider the lifetime medical benefit changes approved for certain elected and appointed officials in December 2025.
Before the change, eligible officials generally needed 12 years of Town service and had to be at least 65 when leaving employment. The December resolution reduced those thresholds to six years of service and age 55, with additional eligibility provisions depending on an individual’s circumstances. The benefit also covers eligible spouses and dependents who are enrolled in the Town’s health insurance plan when the official leaves employment.
During the Town’s budget workshops, Supervisor Ed Smyth repeatedly pointed out that reversing the change would have no fiscal impact on the 2027 budget because no one affected by the new eligibility provisions is expected to reach that threshold during 2027. He has indicated, however, that the Town Board is willing to discuss the policy separately.
That distinction did not change what residents told us when we asked where they wanted the Town to cut. The response to the lifetime medical benefit was overwhelming across the comments we received, and we shared several of those comments during the episode.
We discussed why the issue is resonating so strongly with residents, particularly people in the private sector who do not have access to comparable lifetime medical benefits. We also raised questions about why six years was chosen and whether another service requirement could address the concerns that led to the December change.
There are details about the benefit that we are still working to clarify, and we said that plainly during the episode. We would rather tell you what we do and do not know than fill in the blanks ourselves.
What Does a Tax Increase Actually Apply To?
Another recurring source of confusion involves what a potential Town tax increase would actually affect.
The Town of Huntington collects the entire property tax bill, but it does not control all of the taxes appearing on that bill. School districts, for example, establish their own budgets. Those school taxes are not part of the Town’s current budget discussion.
We previously used approximately 8% as a general estimate for the Town-controlled portion of a total property tax bill. After looking directly at our own bills and comparing them with others, we found that the percentage varies depending on where a resident lives, the taxing districts involved and other circumstances. That is why a single percentage cannot accurately describe every Huntington household.
The important point remains the same: a percentage increase being discussed for the Town budget does not mean that same percentage would be applied to your entire property tax bill.
The Town Board meeting is Tuesday, September 15 at 6 PM. Residents have an opportunity to speak during the public portion of the meeting, and the agenda includes action related to overriding the tax levy limit. If you have an opinion about the budget, the tax cap or where the Town should cut spending, this is your opportunity to tell the Town Board directly.
Watch the full Hot Topics discussion for the resident comments, our questions about the lifetime medical benefit and a closer look at the tax questions we’re still working to understand.
Neighborhood Watch
The Suffolk County Police Department is asking anyone who may have had contact with Steven Dunn of Syosset, or anyone with information that could assist investigators, to come forward following his arrest on a forcible touching charge connected to an investigation involving a massage at Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa in the Huntington Station/Melville area.
Potential additional victims or anyone with information can contact Suffolk County Police Second Squad detectives at 631-854-8252.
We also shared some good news from the September Suffolk County Police Department 2nd Precinct Community Meeting: traffic crashes dropped 17%. Our full precinct meeting coverage includes the presentation slides and additional information from the meeting.
That led to another Neighborhood Watch conversation we hear frequently: “I don’t want to bother the police.”
What we have repeatedly learned from Suffolk County Police is that reporting suspicious activity and recurring problems gives police information they can document and use when determining where resources are needed. If something doesn’t rise to the level of an emergency, residents still have ways to report it.
Suspicious activity can be reported anonymously to Suffolk County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS or through P3Tips.com. If you believe someone could be in immediate danger, call 911.
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Since 2014, Huntington Matters has been connecting neighbors, supporting local businesses, sharing information, advocating for our community, and serving residents across the Town of Huntington.
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Please note: Events are removed from the Community Calendar approximately three months after the event date, so some older links may no longer be active.
