Weitzman looks back at 2008 and ahead to 2009

"A slow housing market, stagnant sales tax growth and job losses will all have a negative effect on the County’s finances,” Weitzman said. “If we are to get through this difficult time, we need to stay focused on maintaining our financial balance and remain open to all solutions. Nothing should be off the table in 2009.”

At the end of 2008, Nassau was already facing declining sales tax numbers, at a time of year when sales tax is usually at its most robust. Sales tax accounts for about 40 percent of the County’s $2.6 billion budget. The County originally budgeted for a 2.5% growth in sales tax. However, the administration reduced its sales tax projections during the year, as receipts dropped. According to the latest reports, sales tax will increase about .9% over last year, or $19 million less than originally budgeted.

"The downward trend of sales tax is troubling," the Comptroller said. “Sales tax receipts could go even lower once the fourth quarter numbers are finalized. It’s certainly an area that I will be keeping a sharp eye on through the year.”

On the upside, however, as a result of efforts by Comptroller Weitzman and County Executive Tom Suozzi, the state reduced the projected rate of increase in government health insurance rates under the New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP), saving Nassau County $11.4 million for 2009. This is the lowest increase in over 10 years. It is anticipated to save State taxpayers approximately $156 million; the saving for schools and local governments, mostly in Nassau County, will be approximately $116 million.

"We believe more can be done in lowering the NYSHIP rates and we expect to be extremely aggressive on that front in 2009,” Weitzman said. “These are the kind of creative, cost-saving avenues we must be persistent in pursuing as we struggle to keep costs down and bring in new revenues.”

Weitzman is also looking into other innovative ways to trim costs even further, such as, by having more County employees participate in the County’s health benefits buy back program. Weitzman has been working closely with County Executive Tom Souzzi to get more County employees who have alternative sources of health insurance to decline County health insurance by increasing the level of reimbursement participants receive from the program. The County now saves $7.6 million annually on health benefits by offering buy backs, but Weitzman is hoping that if the County gives a little bit more, it can save a lot more.

Comptroller Weitzman’s agenda for 2009 will also include audits of County government agencies, County contractors and special districts. The Comptroller is continuing to advocate state law changes to end pay and benefits for special district commissioners (which is unique to Nassau County) and to have towns take over commissioner-run special sanitation districts. This change would have saved Town of Hempstead residents alone $20 million 2007.

Weitzman recently joined with New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to support Cuomo’s proposed initiative to create a single statute that would set up a process by which voters within special taxing districts could consolidate or dissolve them. Currently, laws regarding special taxing districts are complicated and non uniform. Weitzman said that if Cuomo’s proposed reform is approved in 2009, it would "empower the taxpayers on Long Island."

Throughout the course of the year Comptroller Weitzman will testify before the Nassau County Legislature periodically to report on the status of the 2009 budget and year to date budget targets.

"This coming year will be especially challenging, as it will be for all government entities and the taxpayers of Nassau County,” said Weitzman.

"We are all in this together. Just as families are sitting around the kitchen table right now trying to figure out where and how to cut costs, I am doing the same for Nassau County so that we can continue the services our taxpayers expect, while also cutting waste and excess fat from the budget.”

Accomplishments of 2008 include:

?Comptroller’s Office conducted important audits of consultants on special district payrolls; commissioner-run special districts and excessive fund balances; various County departments including the, Social Services, Parks and Consumer Affairs; Living Wage Law violators; non-profit agencies that contract with the County; and Worker’s Compensation violators.

?In just one audit, the Comptroller recovered over $400,000 for Nassau County from a County vendor.

?Testified before the New York State Attorney General’s investigative panel on special taxing districts.

?Worked with the State Department of Taxation and Finance to reinstate the County’s ability to audit sales tax receipts of Nassau County businesses.

?Joined Senator Chuck Schumer and Suffolk County officials to call on the federal government to increase funding for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP), a program that reimburses states and localities for a portion of the cost of incarcerating undocumented criminal aliens.

?Established a compliance group to ensure that Nassau County’s Living Wage Law is enforced by auditing over 100 agencies that contract with the County.

? Successfully proposing legislation to set more stringent requirements before the county provides lucrative lifetime retiree health benefits to its former employees, a change that will save the County millions of dollars.

?Made progress towards reaching goal of having all unions stop the wasteful practice of giving married County employees duplicate family health care coverage, a projected $5 million in savings.

?Worked with representatives of the New York State Public Interest and Research Group (NYPIRG) to discuss a proposal to implement a state-wide drug discount card for those who do not have insurance, much like Nassau County’s NassauRx prescription drug discount card that Weitzman created in 2004.

?Published the County’s first plain language financial report, which was distributed to thousands of residents via email.

?Reached the $10 million savings mark for the NassauRx prescription card discount program, since the program began three years ago.

?Recognized for the 6th consecutive year by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for excellence in financial reporting.

“In 2009 I will continue my objective as Nassau County’s fiscal watchdog to keep the cost of government under control and to lower the tax burden on homeowners,” Weitzman said.
For access to reports and more information from the Comptroller’s office visit our website at http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/Comptroller/index.html

December 22, 2008

Weitzman looks back at 2008 and ahead to New Year: ‘Nothing should be off the table in 2009.’