Mineola, NY - Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi today officially presented his second "no tax increase" budget. The announcement of this responsible, balanced and conservative fiscal document also marks the County Executive's fulfillment of his pledge to address the dire financial crisis that his administration inherited 2 ½ years ago.

"This budget sets forth all the right priorities for Nassau County," County Executive Suozzi said. "This budget, as with every fiscal document this administration has produced, is responsible, balanced and conservative. I am also proud to announce that I have fulfilled my promise to balance the budget, stop job cuts and program attacks, and end tax hikes for the rest of my first term. Now that we have solved the fiscal crises we can move forward to a bright future."

The Suozzi Administration has balanced every budget, has had surpluses each year, has built "rainy day" and other reserve funds amounting to over $100 million, has paid off over $100 million in debt early, has received the stamp of approval from every independent analyst for well conducting its financial affairs, and has achieved the lowest cash flow borrowing in over a decade.

In addition, Nassau County has gone from being "The Worst Run County in the Country," according to the Maxwell School of Public Policy at Syracuse University, to receiving six bond upgrades, the most of any municipality in a one-year period.

According to County Executive Suozzi, the County will continue to meet its future challenges with this same vigor and determination. Nassau County will continue to implement its five-point plan to bring back fiscal stability to the Nassau University Medical Center; will continue to solve the County's tax certiorari crisis, and will continue to improve upon the already-stellar record of low crime and high service by calling for 100 recruits in the Academy during the majority of the year for the next several years in addition to the 180 sworn Nassau County Police Officers and 50 civilians hired this year. Nassau County will also continue its aggressive "Nassau County Parks are Making a Comeback" Campaign as well as its Health and Human Services "No-Wrong-Door" Policy.

Nassau County will also continue to fund the County's Taskforce Against Gangs (TAG), the newly-created Nassau County Planning Federation, the County's Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP), the County's Affordable Housing Plan, and the County's efforts to subsidy the Long Island Bus and a mass transit system to service the Nassau HUB.

The Suozzi Administration will also continue its efforts to promote the enhancement of the County's minority communities, with special attention on Roosevelt and Nassau Road.

The County Executive will, in addition, continue to fight to stop unfunded State mandates with his personally-established "Fix Albany" campaign.

"Today we present a balanced no-tax increase budget, new ideas to move our county forward and a reaffirmed commitment to continue to work harder, longer and better everyday," County Executive Suozzi said. "Today we fulfill the pledge to the people of Nassau County to face what needs to be faced, fix what needs to be fixed, and restore crumbling buildings, neglected programs, broken finances and pride in Nassau County and its government."

Nassau County 2005 Budget Presentation Address and Budget Summary Document