Nassau County Capital Plan Paves the Way for Jobs
Legislature Unanimously Passes Capital Budget Providing Jobs and Relief to L.I. Families

The Nassau County Legislature put politics aside and placed economic recovery first by unanimously approving the 2009 Capital Budget and four-year Capital Improvement Plan on Monday, January 12. This is the earliest since the creation of the Legislature (1995) that the Capital Budget and Plan has been passed. This unprecedented early passage will allow construction and building trades workers to begin projects immediately, providing nearly 1000 local jobs to Long Islanders during these trying economic times.

“Passage of the 2009 Capital Budget this early in the year will provide immediate jobs and relief to hard working families here in the County, said Legislator Dave Mejias (D-Farmingdale). “For Nassau County to be sustainable into the next generation and beyond, we must attract young college graduates and businesses. A diverse choice of housing options, updated transportation and infrastructure and exciting downtown environments attracts new residents.”

Presiding Officer Diane Yatauro (D-Glen Cove) said, “I am pleased we came together in bi-partisan cooperation to adopt the Capital Budget and Plan. Not only is the plan a blueprint for critical projects throughout Nassau County, it is a vehicle to put people to work. The Capital Plan represents our own approach to a local economic stimulus that will boost our current financial condition. In 2009 alone, the Capital Budget will inject over $159 million directly into the local economy.”

The Capital Plan and Capital Budget advance projects that will improve the health, safety and quality of life of Nassau County residents. Projects include enhancements to County facilities, rehabilitation of roadways and parks, drainage improvements and numerous other worthy projects.

To celebrate the passage of the County Capital Budget and Plan and its potential to provide much needed employment here in Nassau County, Legislators welcomed representatives from the Long Island Contractors' Association. Pictured are: from Interstate Paving in Hicksville, Bill Helms on rig; standing on the rig, left to right: Legislators Wayne Wink, Richard Nicolello, Judi Bosworth, Dave Mejias, Roger Corbin, Dennis Dunne, Ed Mangano. Pictured standing on the pavement, left to right: Legislators Jeff Toback, John Ciotti, Judy Jacobs, Presiding Officer Diane Yatauro, Legislator Dave Denenberg, Marc Herbst, the executive director of LI Contractors' Association, and Legislators Kevan Abrahams, Vincent Muscarella, and Denise Ford.