The Town of Hempstead Industrial Development Agency will hold a hearing on Wednesday, June 25 at 9:15 a.m. in the courtroom of the old Hempstead Town Hall at 350 Front Street to consider providing tax relief to International Equine Acquisitions Holdings (IEAH) Corp on an equine hospital that is currently being built.

The hospital, called the Ruffian Equine Medical Center, which is being built on Plainfield Avenue in Elmont, will encompass approximately 23,000 square feet and the project is currently estimated at about $16 million, according to IEAH's website.

It is anticipated that the center will be opening late summer.

The tax incentive would most likely freeze taxes for three years after the building is completed at $70,000.

However, Nassau County Assessor Harvey Levinson doesn't necessarily believe the town should be handing out tax incentives to profit-making investments. Levinson estimates that the property with the equine medical center should be generating $420,000 in taxes per year as opposed to $70,000.

Depending on a benefits package awarded by the Town of Hempstead Industrial Development Agency, relief from mortgage filing fees and sales tax could be granted as well.

"The bottom line is if someone pays less, someone else pays more," Levinson said.

The Town of Hempstead Industrial Development Agency offers tax incentives for qualifying businesses.

- Joe Rizza