06-16-08

Nassau County Comptroller Howard Weitzman said today that the results of an independent report on the potential for consolidation of sanitation services commissioned by County Executive Thomas Suozzi supports the findings of the Comptroller’s office—Nassau County taxpayers would save at least $16 million if the towns took over the operations from sanitation district commissioners. The report, released today by the County Executive, endorses the Governor’s proposals pertaining to special districts that call for abolishing salaries and perks for commissioners and having the towns take over the independent sanitation districts.

“Taxpayers can consider this report a ‘second opinion’ on a sick patient,” Weitzman said.

The findings of this report reinforce what my office has been reporting over the past several years. Commissioner-run special districts cost more, towns can do it cheaper, and taxpayers can save millions by having the towns operate garbage collection. At least $16 million dollars in tax savings would be available to Nassau County taxpayers right now if lawmakers in Albany would move the Governor’s special district reforms forward and savings could reach as high as $38 million with no loss of taxpayer services.”

The 57-page independent report, “Consolidation Analysis and Implementation Plan: Solid Waste,” was prepared by Malcolm Pirnie, Inc. Of White Plains and Cameron Engineering and was commissioned by the County Executive. The report was funded by the County Legislature and the Hagedorn Foundation. The report analyzed consolidation of sanitation services amongst the various municipalities and special districts within the county.

According to the report, the Town of Hempstead collection cost per household is $442 a year, while costs in surrounding commissioner-run special sanitation districts are up to $229 MORE. The average cost per employee in the TOH is $92,559, while the average for an employee in Town of Hempstead Sanitary District 2 is $117,472. The report also stated that “if the other districts in Hempstead were consolidated under the Town of Hempstead and were able to achieve the same cost of service, the annual savings would be on the order of $13 million, not including vehicle maintenance. Vehicle maintenance savings could be as much as $1 million annually and consolidation of the districts in the towns of Oyster Bay and North Hempstead could potentially offer an additional $3 million in annual savings in collection services. The sum of the above consolidation efforts could provide a potential savings of approximately $17 million annually.”

The report concludes by endorsing the New York Commission on Local Government Efficiency and Competitiveness and its recommendations pertaining to commissioner-run special districts. According to the report, the reforms, which include abolishing salaries and perks for commissioners and having the towns take over the independent sanitation districts, would “increase accountability and transparency and can help reduce costs.”

“These findings offer common sense and achievable measures to provide immediate property tax relief to Nassau's beleaguered homeowners," Comptroller Weitzman said. "In light of the current economic downturn it is more crucial than ever for the state to help us end patronage driven spending and lower the property tax burden on Nassau families. The Legislature must act on these recommendations before their session ends."

Weitzman announces County’s independent report on consolidation of garbage districts confirms taxpayers would save millions if Albany lawmakers approve Gov’s “special district” proposals