May 15, 2006

Budget Review Committee hears the good and bad financial news for County

Nassau County Legislator Lisanne Altmann (D-Great Neck), chair of the Legislature’s Budget Review Committee, heard testimony last week from County Department heads, who presented the committee members with both good and bad financial news.

While overtime numbers in the Nassau County Police Department and the Correctional Facility, were both lower than last year, other costs in the county have risen, such as utility costs and a $30 million expected loss at the Nassau University Medical Center.

Overtime at the Police Department is down 13 percent from last year and the Correctional facility reported overtime numbers to be down 14 percent from last year.

Photo Caption: Nassau County Legislator Lisanne Altmann is pictured listening to testimony by Sheriff Ed Reilly of the Nassau County Corrections Department at the recent 1st quarter legislative budget review hearing.

Utility costs for the county have increased by $3 million.

According to Office of Independent Budget Review, NUMC has seen a 20 percent decrease in patients since April. Coupled with the Governor’s recent veto of portions of the proposed legislative budget that would have restored some of the Governor’s cuts, the impact to NUMC is about $20 million in reduced revenues and $12 million in proposed enhancements.

Expected losses for the Nassau Health Care Corporation could reach $30 million this year.

“It is imperative that a turnaround plan for the hospital is put in place as soon as possible and that we determine why the hospital’s census numbers are so low,” said Altmann.