HUNTINGTON, NY – September 5, 2026
A 19% tax increase sounds alarming, but what does that number actually mean for a Huntington homeowner? We took a closer look at the Town’s 2027 budget process after attending the second budget workshop, while Huntington prepares to mark 25 years since September 11. We shared a very special #HMChallenge update too.
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 upcoming events around Huntington, the final night of the Summer Arts Festival, the next Suffolk County Police Department 2nd Precinct Community Meeting, a free health fair, and continuing the “What Do You Think?” challenge asking viewers to try something new and share it with #HMChallenge.
👇 Watch the full episode below and please subscribe to our YouTube channel.
What’s Happening Around Huntington
The Huntington Matters Community Calendar has plenty happening as we head into September.
Korea Fest 2026 runs Saturday through Monday at Good News New York Church in Huntington, with Korean food, activities, entertainment, K-beauty and more. The Summer Arts Festival wraps up Saturday night with the Lords of 52nd Street, featuring musicians from Billy Joel’s original band, performing at Heckscher Park. Brothers Barbershop hosts its free back-to-school event Sunday, offering haircuts and school supplies for local kids.
Tuesday brings two opportunities for residents to ask questions and learn more about what is happening in Huntington. The Suffolk County Police Department 2nd Precinct Community Meeting takes place at Harborfields Public Library in the morning, followed that evening by Councilwoman Jennifer Hebert’s monthly Let’s Talk Huntington session.
The Town of Huntington Human Services Department will hold a free health fair Wednesday at the Huntington Senior Center, with screenings and information from health care providers and organizations.
Residents can find details for these events and many more on the Huntington Matters Community Calendar at HuntingtonMatters.com.
Huntington Marks 25 Years Since September 11
Next week marks 25 years since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and memorial services are planned throughout the Town of Huntington. The Town will hold its September 11 memorial service on Thursday the 10th at Heckscher Park. The Village of Northport will hold a separate ceremony that evening, where Jessica Trent, daughter of Daniel Trent, who died on September 11, will speak.
Additional September 11 observances are planned at Commack High School with a drone show, the Melville Fire Department, Cold Spring Harbor and East Northport.
We discussed why these observances remain important 25 years later, particularly as an entire generation has grown up without personal memories of that day. Details for the memorial services currently scheduled are available on the Huntington Matters Community Calendar.
Hot Topics: What Does a 19% Town Tax Increase Actually Mean?
Before anyone sees “19%” and panics, there’s an important distinction: that number would apply only to the Town-controlled portion of your property tax bill, not your entire property tax bill. Town Comptroller Jonas Wagner presented an example using an approximately $14,400 total property tax bill. Of that amount, approximately $1,600 represented Town-controlled taxes. A 19% increase to that portion would equal approximately $307 more per year, or $25.63 per month. The 19% figure represented an example of what would be required to maintain the currently discussed level of Town spending, rather than a final tax increase. The Town Board is still working through the budget, and no final decision has been made.
We have been following the process from the beginning. You can read our coverage of the first Town budget workshop for background on the projected budget gap and the initial discussion about staying under the tax cap. Our second budget workshop article takes a closer look at the meeting discussed in this episode and the options now being considered.
The difficult part is deciding what stays and what goes. We discussed the proposed reductions involving seasonal and part-time positions, outside agencies, special events and open-space funding. Eliminating seasonal workers, for example, could leave beaches, parks, pools and summer camps without the staff needed to operate them. Eliminating Town-provided leaf bags could move more leaves into the regular waste stream and increase processing costs. Funding for outside agencies raises a similar question because relatively small Town contributions can help those organizations raise substantially more money from other sources.
Staffing is another piece of the puzzle. The Town currently has 47 vacant full-time positions, and we discussed why filling certain positions could actually reduce other costs, including overtime. Even the Town’s part-time bingo inspector made it into the conversation. The position costs approximately $22,000, generates approximately $47,000 in Town revenue, and bingo events raise more than $1 million for the local charities that host them. Eliminating the position could therefore have consequences well beyond its $22,000 budget line.
The Town Board still has decisions to make before a proposed budget reaches a public hearing and final vote, and we’ll continue following the process. Our challenge to residents is simple: if you believe there is spending that should be cut, tell us specifically where. Look at the budget, bring us the line item and tell us what you think should change. Attend the September 15 Town Board meeting at 6:00PM, sign up to speak and let the Town Board know how you feel.
Watch the full discussion for a closer look at the choices, tradeoffs and questions raised during the workshop.
What Do You Think? #HMChallenge Accepted!
For the past two weeks, we’ve challenged everyone to try something new and tag it with #HMChallenge. Dix Hills resident and business owner Chris Grazioso accepted the challenge and went considerably bigger than trying a new restaurant or food.
Chris and his wife, Kelly, launched The Giving Table, a program connecting restaurants with nonprofit organizations. Participating restaurants create special food and drink menus, with a portion of sales benefiting the nonprofit partner.
Their inaugural event at Cena 081 raised nearly $2,000 for Camp Happy Tails NYC. The Giving Table has since launched here in Huntington at IMC Restaurant, where a special menu and signature Sweet Angela cocktail benefit Angela’s House.
Thank you, Chris and Kelly, for sharing these milestones with us through #HMChallenge and for finding such a creative way to give back.
You do not have to launch an entire charitable program to join us. Try a new food, go somewhere you have never been, learn something new or finally do something you have been meaning to try. Share a photo, video or text post and tag it #HMChallenge so we can see what you did.
Connect with and Support Huntington Matters
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.
What began as an “ambitious volunteer project” has grown into a full-time hyperlocal media platform that includes HuntingtonMatters.com, our Community Calendar, Business Directory, The Common Thread magazine, Huntington Matters Community Forum, Instagram, TikTok, and regular YouTube Live updates.
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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.
