January 29, 2001 - The Nassau County
Budget Review Committee announced the appointment
today of Eric Naughton to the post of Director
of the Office of Legislative Budget Review. Mr.
Naughton has served as acting director since the
departure of Tim Sullivan to NIFA (Nassau Interim
Finance Authority) late last year. Mr. Naughton
served as deputy within the department during Mr.
Sullivan's tenure as director.
 |
| (L
to R) Presiding Officer Judith Jacobs,
Leg. Lisanne Altmann, Eric Naughton,
Leg. John Ciotti, Minority Leader Peter
Schmitt |
Prior to joining Nassau County's Office of
Legislative Budget Review in 1996, Mr. Naughton
held the position of Financial Planning Manager
for the Housing Authority of the City of Atlanta
and from 1990 to 1995, he served as Accounting
Budget Manager for the City of Marietta in
Georgia. His early career in municipal finance
was spent with the New York City Department
of Ports and Trade as Budget Analyst and the
New York City Department of Investigation as
a Senior Budget Analyst.
As Director of the Office of Legislative Budget
Review Mr. Naughton will be responsible for
determining the extent to which legislative
policies are being implemented by the administration;
reviewing the performance and management efficiency
of county departments and agencies; analyzing
the soundness of departmental budget estimates
and requests for appropriations, revenues,
borrowings and other fiscal modifications throughout
the year; reviewing annually the soundness
of the proposed county budget and community
college budget, including borrowing and taxes;
evaluating the county's plans, facilities,
organizational arrangements and management
control systems to accomplish program and legislative
policies; and other duties and responsibilities
as assigned by the county legislature.
Mr. Naughton said he
looks forward to the challenge. "As director, I will continue the
thorough analysis of the County's finances,
including greater review of operations. I am
happy to see that the Administration has set
up a formal initiative and budget monitoring
system. While this will help ensure that the
County doesn't sink, it is also important that
the County is steered in the right direction." Legislator
Lisanne Altmann (D-Great Neck) said that bipartisan
support for Mr. Naughton and the Budget Review
Committee will ensure the current fiscal crisis
in Nassau County is monitored on an ongoing
basis. "It is our intent to work together with
the Office of Legislative Budget Review to
keep track of budget trends and to closely
monitor revenues and expenditures."
In a joint statement,
Legislators John Ciotti (R-North Valley Stream)
and Minority Leader Peter Schmitt (R-Massapequa)
said, "Eric Naughton
brings outstanding skills as the Director of
this most important position. We look forward
to working with Eric and his staff as we continue
to closely monitor the county's fiscal condition."
Legislator Altmann said the Committee will
meet monthly to gather information from county
officials, including the County Comptroller,
the Office of Management and Budgets, and the
County Treasurer. These Committee meetings
will be in addition to the quarterly meeting
with department heads.
The Committee plans to recommend that the
independent Office of Budget Review hire four
new analysts to conduct in-depth review on
fiscal issues and provide legislators with
additional material on streamlining government.
In addition, Inspector Larry Mulvey has been
hired to monitor police costs. The intent is
to expand the ability of the Budget Review
Office to monitor the budget and prepare additional
reports and findings as deemed necessary by
the Legislature.
Most importantly, Legislator
Altmann said, is "that the independent Office
of Budget Reivew will be able to more closely
scrutinize the numbers from the Office of
Management and Budgets and the Comptroller
without there being concerns that political
motivation is at work. The legislators are
working together to do this."
