Garden City, NY -- Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi tonight outlined his vision for a "New Suburbia" in his third annual State of the County address, while touting his administration's numerous financial successes, including a series of recent Wall Street rating upgrades. He also pledged to keep his promise that there would be NO county property-tax increases for 2004 and 2005.
In addition he outlined a plan for the Nassau Hub, called for bi-partisan cooperation; and detailed an aggressive Albany agenda, which includes Medicaid reform and the creation of Nassau County's first Empire Zone. He also urged the passage of his real-estate consolidation plan.
The recipient of the second annual Nassau County Theodore Roosevelt Award for Achievement was presented to Mr. Frank Zarb, former chairman of the Nassau County Interim Finance Authority.
"We have balanced every budget we have administered, we have accumulated surpluses each year, we have paid off almost $100 million in debt, our cash flow borrowing was the lowest in over a decade, and, most importantly, we will not raise taxes in 2004 and 2005," said Suozzi.
The Nassau County Executive pointed out that "Nassau County was the only municipality in the entire United States to have received two bond upgrades from both Moody's and Standard and Poors." Last week, Nassau County received an upgrade by Fitch Ratings Company to the "A" ranks, for the first time in a decade.
Suozzi added, "the County's workforce has been cut to the smallest it's been in 30 years. We have eliminated more than 1100 jobs saving over $100 million per year." Suozzi also reported that his determination to end "the patronage bloated government" was paying off and the County's salary cost today is $60 million less than it was in the year 2000. In addition, since Suozzi took office, spending on outside legal contracts has been cut by 67%.
Suozzi also outlined his comprehensive Real Estate Consolidation plan that will not be funded by taxpayer dollars but by the sale of surplus property and efficiencies that will be generated by the consolidation.
Suozzi offered the County Legislature "a hand of compromise" and asked that Democrats and Republicans put aside their differences and work together to serve the people. "Our greatest successes are those when working together, we not only save the taxpayers money, we also provide better services to make people's lives better," said Suozzi.
The County Executive discussed his Albany agenda calling it, "far reaching bold reform." Suozzi, who has taken the lead throughout the state in Medicaid Reform said that, "the local cost of Medicaid is the fastest growing cost in our County budget, and the New York State government is the only branch of government that can reduce it's affect on your property taxes." Suozzi pointed out that the cost of Medicaid to local property taxpayers in Nassau County is $260 million this year. The Nassau County General Fund tax levy is only $126 million this year. "That's right, Medicaid costs us twice as much as we collect in General Fund taxes," disclosed Suozzi.
Suozzi is also looking to Albany for help in saving the failing Nassau University Medical Center and action to create of an Empire Zone in Nassau County.
The most ambitious proposal presented in Suozzi's State of the County Address is the development of a "New Suburbia," an idea that "marries the dream of the white picket fence, single family homes, a baseball field down the street, low crime, low unemployment, and local control, with a new vision for growth in selected areas that improves the quality of life, pays for government services, strengthens communities and addresses traffic congestion."
Suozzi wants the County to focus its energy on two major industry areas, high-skilled, high-tech business and sports, entertainment and tourism. In addition, Suozzi promised to continue his "downtown revitalization" efforts and talked of the new Nassau County Planning Federation that will help to develop a new vision for Nassau's downtowns and help develop incentives that will encourage investment in them.
Suozzi also discussed the need for affordable housing for working families, seniors, and young marrieds, and urged continued attention be paid to emerging minority communities like Roosevelt, New Cassel and Hempstead.
County Executive Suozzi called, the Nassau Hub "the most important economic catalyst in Nassau County." "The Hub is home to the most jobs, the most square feet of commercial property and the most tax revenues in the County. It is the key to the future of Nassau."
Suozzi concluded his address by praising the "pioneers here in the Cradle of Aviation." and like those great pioneers, urged Nassau County residents to join with him "to seek new horizons that will test our beliefs and our abilities as never before."
"Let us look ahead and plan for our bright future, together here with our families, our friends and neighbors, here in our hometown of Nassau County, here in a New Suburbia," he said.
2004 State of the County Address
